| Internet phone is undeniably a great service that | | | | response operators to identify the location or |
| allows users to place calls with their high speed | | | | address of the person calling based upon their |
| internet connection and to save significantly on | | | | phone number; operators basically receive the |
| long distance and international calling costs. | | | | information from a sort of reverse telephone |
| Another attraction of the service is its portability. | | | | directory database. However, with internet phone |
| Internet phone users can go virtually anywhere | | | | a caller's number is attributed to the device and if |
| with their adapter or SIP phone and use it just as | | | | the location of the device changes (i.e. they take |
| if they were sitting in their own living room as | | | | it with them on a trip) the system can not |
| long as they have access to a high speed internet | | | | automatically identify their location. Currently, it is |
| connection. The popularity of internet phone for | | | | the responsibility of the consumer to assure they |
| both residential and business customers has | | | | notify their internet phone provider of their |
| grown tremendously in recent years and | | | | location/address to keep the information |
| customers are reportedly well satisfied. | | | | up-to-date in the database. Obviously, if a caller |
| A large part of satisfaction with any product is | | | | away from his identified location reaches 911 and |
| related to customers knowing what they're | | | | is able to tell the operator their location the call |
| getting and identifying their expectations/needs | | | | would then need to be re-directed to the correct |
| before purchasing. For all of its wonderful | | | | 911 center for the area. However, this becomes a |
| features, new consumers need to realize that | | | | much bigger issue when the caller is unable to |
| internet phone services are still somewhat in their | | | | speak for any reason. |
| infancy as compared to regular land line telephone | | | | For some internet phone customers, the limited |
| services which are over 100 years old. Because | | | | 911/E911 access is not an issue. For these users, |
| of the youth of internet phone service there are | | | | their phone is used exclusively in one location, |
| still a few issues that are being worked through. | | | | such as their home or office, and once registered |
| So, what "kinks are still in the system? | | | | their location is easy to pinpoint. Others maintain a |
| Originally, call quality was a concern but quality is | | | | land line or cell phone for other purposes and |
| now rated as similar to traditional calls in most | | | | would be able to use those lines to make any |
| surveys. Reliability is also good in general although | | | | necessary 911 calls. Certainly, for consumers |
| new users need to realize that when power is lost | | | | simply wishing to take advantage of the cost |
| or their internet connection is down, calls can not | | | | savings and portability of internet phone there are |
| be made. This can be easily circumvented | | | | options to deal with some of the current |
| however by using an auxiliary, uninterrupted | | | | shortcomings of internet phone but for others, |
| power supply, and back up communication in the | | | | the prospect of using other technologies such as |
| form of a cell phone or land line for use in such | | | | satellite GPS to resolve problems in identifying the |
| emergencies. However, the biggest hurdle still | | | | location of callers will make internet phone |
| being addressed by internet phone providers is | | | | services more desirable in the next year or two. |
| assuring that customers have access to 911 or | | | | The challenge of providing consistent and reliable |
| E911 services. | | | | access to 911 for internet phone services will be |
| In 2005, the FCC mandated that internet phone | | | | temporary just as it was a number of years ago |
| providers give customers access to 911/E911. | | | | for land line based phone services and |
| Providers are still struggling to make this happen. | | | | subsequently for cellular services. For internet |
| In some instances, gaining access to the 911 | | | | phone customers today, it is important to check |
| system is limited but in many instances the | | | | with the service provider regarding access to 911 |
| difficulty is due to the portability of the service. | | | | and to assure that their address/location is |
| Here is an example. With traditional phone | | | | up-to-date with the provider at all times. |
| services, the 911 system allows emergency | | | | |