We normally have a POTS line or two at networked VoIP sites that we default 911 calls to but I have a senario where a customer has a dozen very small remote sites (1 or 2 phones) and they want to replace the copper lines at those sites with IP phones off of the main HQ switch. The IP phones will then use the trunks at the HQ for inbound and outbound calls. They will also have voice mail w/Message Wait and all the other system features and capabilities.
My question though is how to handle 911 calls from the 12 remote sites....they don't want to keep any copper trunks as that is the main impetence for putting IP phones out there. I don't think it's possible but thought I'd throw the question out there to the group...

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Timbo

https://www.911enable.com/solutions/service_providers/residential_voip.php

Not sure what they charge per month.

If you're using a PRI, you could possibly setup each stations outbound number to a unique DID number. Then have the provider (if they are willing) setup the 911 address for each number to go to the proper place.

Hope that makes a little sense.

nfcphoneman,
I can set up outboud CID numbering on our switch...and they will be using a PRI....just may work for this customer! Thanks for the idea!
The only thing I would worry about is if that is legal or not....do you know?

TIA

It is legal as I am doing it in several locations in South Texas but so far it is only offered by Time Warner on their PRIs. I think it would put the major legal finger on the installing company because it is dependant on your installers putting the right DID number to the right mapped physical address. Imagine an inadvertant assignment causing the 911 dispatch to the wrong location resulting in death or serious injury.

RBF....yes...that would be very bad!

Also would mean if user a at location a moved to location b and the set is aquiring ip address the set outbound CID would be see as old location.SO 911 calls would be sent to location a

SO let the CG do all his own IP work and let the lawsuits fly.

I have a few sites that are trucking terminals. 1 or 2 IP phones. But they need faxes also. So we use that for 911 (fax line)

I wonder about businesses that tell people on site to use the fax line or a specific 2500 set on a jack for 911 calling. In the heat of an emergency when someone fails to use the right phone to notify 911 what happens when the injured/lawyers encounter a "wrongful outcome". I'm only comfortable using a situation where the remote systems have a foolproof way of getting 911 assistance. Anyone have a work around that they use???

Tone Commander (800-524-0024) makes a unit that goes in-line with the PRI coming into the main system. It then allows outbound calls to be re-mapped and routed to the appropriated 911 dispatch center based upon the calling extension. It will notify other parties of the situation and you can also view 911 calling activity via reports.

The only problem that I see with changing the calling number for the station is that it's permanent. It also must be a legitimate local number, something that the customer is looking to avoid. Even if you put something in that's not a working number now, what happens if it does eventually end up getting assigned to a real address? Not to mention that people may use their caller ID to return a call to this "number".

All valid thoughts Ed....I wish there was an easy answer...it would make Voip networking a lot easier to sell. This particular customer is going to be hard to convince due to the 911 issue.....