Re: vonage 911 service

[Robert L Bass <sales@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I get people all the time telling me how good VOIP is.
> But when you cut off all the BS, its all about cost.

For some folks that's true.  For others cost is only one element
of the purchasing decision and not necessarily the primary one.
I chose VoIP because it allows me to take my telephone with me to
Brazil where I have a second home and office.

The VoIP phone stations I bought cost about $300 apiece.  Each
worker has one.  We can transfer or forward calls from any
location to any other -- even to the other side of the world --
at the touch of a button.  Our VoIP auto-attendant software works
better than any of the hardware based solutions I've tried.

The monthly cost of the service is slightly higher than what I
was previously paying for Verizon land lines, but we now have 17
lines in hunting vs. the three lines we used to have.

> I explain that I could care less what something can do, I
> look at what it CAN NOT do.  If I CAN NOT get help when
> I need it, it ain't worth the savings to me...

If that were the case with my provider, I'd also have looked
elsewhere.  The 911 interface they provide works as follows:
Each user fills in an online form with our name, address, name
and phone numbers of local police, fire and ambulance services.
If anyone on my VoIP network dials 911 the call is routed
directly to the appropriate facility.

What we don't get is 911 type display of our name and address at
the emergency call center.  We have to give them our name and
address.

Because I only use VoIP service for my business, I still have
Verizon POTS lines at my home.  Those can contact 911 in the
normal manner.  Also, my DSL service rides on an active phone
line which can be used to dial 911 or to make other calls in the
event the DSL service goes down.

If the auto-attendant system goes offline, their switch will
temporarily route incoming calls to the POTS number.  That has
nothing to do with 911 though.  It's just an extra feature that I
like.

> I'm that frigging important to myself...

Well, you're certainly in the right newsgroup.  :^)

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com

--

Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large
groups.