VoIP, Inc., a global provider of advanced communications services utilizing Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) as its core technology, announced the release of the industry's first private network 911 service for broadband and packet communications. The private network 911 service is provided by VoIP, Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary VoiceOne Communications LLC.

"The industry has been focused on creating quick solutions to meet FCC deadlines related to recent regulatory actions that require VoIP service providers to offer 911 services to customers. Some of these solutions continue to use unsecured, and best-effort transport of the Internet for critical emergency calls," said VoIP, Inc. CEO Steven Ivester.



"We are changing the dynamics at VoIP, Inc., with this unprecedented move to go beyond the requirements of the FCC order to help ensure reliability and quality of 911 calls. We are utilizing our private VoiceOne MPLS network along with our proprietary softswitch, selective routers, and media gateway controllers to provide the redundancy necessary for best-quality of service for 911 calls over IP," Ivester added.

VoIP, Inc.'s VoiceOne network provides five redundant entry points for IP 911 calls to enter the network through the Internet or private peering. These entry points are strategically placed geographically to provide the shortest path for a phone call originating anywhere in the U.S. These first levels of redundancy, and the strategic geographic locations, provide the best practical implementation to achieving the best-possible quality of service (QoS) connection to the VoiceOne network from Internet voice subscribers.

VoIP, Inc. CTO Shawn Lewis said, "Once the call is received on the VoiceOne network, the call is analyzed for the proper delivery to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), call center, or other emergency location. Based on the destination of the location required to deliver the call, it is maintained on the private VoiceOne MPLS backbone, ensuring the best-possible quality and redundancy for transport, compared to other solutions utilizing the Internet for call delivery."

Carriers, service providers, cable operators, and others can manage the entire 911 service feature set through the VoiceOne web portal or XML provisioning system in near real-time fashion - - another feature not offered by solution providers in the 911 industry today.

Lewis added, "Offering IP related services, with the quality of service and reliability levels carriers and consumers demand and deserve, was our primary focus in designing this product offering. Secondly, making the service affordable and available to all with a simplified interface was critical."

Currently VoiceOne is working with select carriers and service providers in the industry through its 911 product trials. VoiceOne plans to release the entire product at the CompTel/ASCENT Fall 2005 Convention and Expo in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 9-12, where demonstrations of the provisioning interface, reporting, etc. will be demonstrated at the VoiceOne Booth (#500).

Some of the compelling features of the V911 service offering from VoiceOne include:

• Private transport of the emergency call on the VoiceOne MPLS network
• Redundant and geographically dispersed entry points for 911 calls
• Ability to provide 911 service to numbers not owned/serviced by VoiceOne
• Full web portal for the management of all 911 features
• XML provisioning interface for electronic management
• SMS notification when a 911 call is made, chosen by subscriber
• Email notification list when a 911 call is made, chosen by subscriber
• 24x7 NOC monitoring of all 911 calls made through VoiceOne
• VoiceOne NOC can intercept, bridge into 911 calls to provide assistance
• 911 calls can be recorded as an option of the Service Provider
• 911 Verification Service, subscriber can dial 555-9191 and receive verbal confirmation of provided service
• Online interface for subscriber to modify address, or mark nomadic