On Jan 24, 2007, at 9:16 AM, Chris Louden wrote:
On 1/24/07, Jeff Lasman <[email protected]> wrote: This is just my two cents. Take it as you will. Knowing what I know from working where I work you need a land line for 9-1-1 in the state of CA. Reporting a car accident or neighbors fighting is fine to do with a cell phone or a VoIP service like Vonage. However if you have a chance of passing out or not being able to communicate for any reason you "need" a land line. Have the Vonage if you like for primary use but keep the basic phone in your home for 9-1-1 service. The capabilities are coming for better cell/VOIP integration into the 9-1-1 system but they not in use everywhere. Its just not worth the risk for you and your family.
Please do not continue to spread this nonsense. This is exactly the speech given to people switching to a VoIP provider from ATT or something similiar. It is also patently false and your dangers with E911 or no less than your dangers with a physical land line. If anything the fact your cellphone has a GPS builtin makes E911 via Cellphone a lot better than your land line. If you have passed out your VoIP phone doesn't automagically shut off nor does your land line phone, heck often the same phone you used for your land line is in use for your VoIP service.
If you have ever tried VoIP you know that they require you to tell them exactly where your phone is placed. It is for this reason that wireless VoIP phones are not readily available in the US even though Asia has them everywhere.
By LAW your VoIP provider can NOT offer you service if they do not support E911. Offering VoIP without E911 means your provider will be stuck with a $10K fine for each day and each event.
http://www.voipmonitor.net/CommentView,guid,2595958d-3f26-4f1f- b91f-6b2127763cef.aspx
In short google this issue, there is a lot of documentation about it and I have specifically been at the front of dealing with this because we use VoIP at LSU and we supply E911 information.
