Yesterday the FCC Commissioner said this...

Posts: 206 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:45 pm Post subject:

rebus wrote:

mrkleen wrote:

Has anyone had this happen:

I called 911 to test it, I spoke with a man that said that I had reached an administrative line at the emergency services call center. He informed me that this line is NOT an emergency line and that it may or may not get answered depending on call volume and staffing and also that he had no information about me or my location. I have a ticket started at Vonage, but I read through the "Terms of Service" and found some disturbing information:

"You acknowledge and understand that when you dial 911 from your Vonage equipment it is intended that you will be routed to the general telephone number for the PSAP or local emergency service provider

(which may not be answered outside business hours), and may not be routed to the 911 dispatcher(s)
who are specifically designated to receive incoming 911 calls using traditional 911 dialing."

This is unnacceptable I need to know whether or not my call will go through, if there is a chance it will not, this service is useless and they should not even offer it.

Any thoughts?

I'm not saying this with a harsh tone, but more of a "let's settle this once and for all" tone.

You know what the terms of service are, and if they are unacceptable, do not purchase Voip service. Stay with POTS. It's really that simple.

Nobody has a gun to your head. You are the one with complete freedom over the purchase decision. If a product does not meet your needs or expectations, put it back on the shelf and walk away.

ding ding ding! We have a winner!

Posts: 85 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 85

rebus wrote:

If a product does not meet your needs or expectations, put it back on the shelf and walk away.

I couldn't have said it better. I love hearing all these people who CHOSE to order Vonage complain that it is not what they want or missing their favorite feature. I too want these features but I realize that this is a growing new technology that is only going to get better and more reliable. The funny thing is that I bet they are not complaining when they save a bunch of money every month.

Posts: 318 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject:

I fourth that! It's a little thing called "personal responsibility"...

Posts: 85 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 85

I for one do not want EXTRA fees and regulation. I switched to Vonage mostly to save money and partly to justify high speed internet to my wife.

What is next.....Vonage is responsible for getting me a battery backup system just in case I need to call 911 when the power is out? Everyone here knew what they were getting when they signed up for this service. How about enjoying the money you are saving. Get a cell phone for heavens sake or go back to pots if you that unhappy.

Posts: 448 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 6:44 pm Post subject:

DentalRep wrote:

What is next.....Vonage is responsible for getting me a battery backup system just in case I need to call 911 when the power is out?

Shhhh!!! Don't give the whiners any (more) crazy ideas. Wink

Next thing you know, they'll be calling for legislation to force Voip carriers to ship a UPS with each adapter, and ISPs to guarantee packet delivery to the same reliability standards as POTS service. (which is essentially 100% uptime, come hell or high water)

Oops, I think I've said too much already.

Posts: 23 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 7:22 pm Post subject:

OH yeah, if you dont like one small peice of an otherwise great service put it down and walk away. That is the answer to everything. I'm sure none of you ever complain.

Sorry if you think I am "whining"

I understand that regulation of any kind does not make sense for phone over boadband nor am I asking for it.

My gripe is simply this: you fill out this info for emergency 911 service and tell you that your call will be routed to the proper authorities (differently than POTS as long as there is power and an internet connection, yes i get it) and then bury the information saying that you better be dying between 9 and 5 m-f for this service to work. This should be right up front.

In my opinion, if they do not know if it can be answered then it should not be offered until something reliable is in place. I don't even care that what they offer does not have the "Enhanced" features, it would just be nice to know that the call would be answered.

911 is a fundamental service and Vonage obviously agrees or else they would not be working on it.

Excuse me for posting a thought to a message board.

Including the battery backup is a pretty good idea, I think I will put that in as a feature request Wink

Posts: 482 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 7:34 pm Post subject:

mrkleen,

To quote "The Big Lebowski":

"Smokey, you are about to enter a world of pain...a world of pain...."

Posts: 23 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 7:44 pm Post subject:

Please don't hurt me too bad, I can't call 911. Eek

Posts: 23 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 7:49 pm Post subject:

rebus wrote:

put it back on the shelf and walk away.

If everyone that had one little complaint about this system did as you suggest, there would be nothing to complain about and we would all still be using baby bells.

Also no one cared to answer my question: Has anyone else had that experience when testing 911?

Posts: 448 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 8:25 pm Post subject:

mrkleen wrote:

My gripe is simply this: you fill out this info for emergency 911 service and tell you that your call will be routed to the proper authorities (differently than POTS as long as there is power and an internet connection, yes i get it) and then bury the information saying that you better be dying between 9 and 5 m-f for this service to work. This should be right up front.

There is 911 information (and the limitations thereof) all over the website, and Vonage makes it very clear their 911 service is NOT the same as 911 on POTS. In fact, they just about beat you over the head with that information.

http://www.vonage.com/help_knowledgeBase_article.php?article=394&category=0

http://www.vonage.com/help_knowledgeBase_article.php?article=113&category=0

mrkleen wrote:

In my opinion, if they do not know if it can be answered then it should not be offered until something reliable is in place.

You don't seriously mean that, do you? So according to you, it's better to have no 911 at all than to have second-best service.

For the record, I would prefer E-911, but the 911 alternative Vonage offers in our area is good enough for now. Our PSAP is manned and answered 24x7x365. Sure, our address is not transmitted with the call, but until a few years ago, it wasn't transmitted with POTS either. In fact, until the 1980s, we didn't even have 911 service. The phone company used to distribute stickers with Police & Fire Department phone numbers. We used to have one stuck inside a cupboard door, or a nightstand drawer, next to each phone in the house. You probably remember them from your own home growing up.

But enough bickering. I have some good news for you. Vonage has made it possible for both of us to get our wish. For those (like you) who would rather have no 911 than settle for second best, don't activate it.

Those of us who are willing to live with the PSAP alternative until Vonage deploys E-911 can enable it.

We both win. There, now don't you feel better? Very Happy