8x8 Announces E911 Service for Residential VoIP

8x8 announced the immediate availability of enhanced 911 (E911) services for subscribers to the Packet8 internet telephony service. The company claims to be the first VoIP residential telephone service to offer "real" E911 service which will automatically route calls and computer-based "screen pops" of caller information to emergency personnel at local Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).



The Packet8 E911 solution requires a subscriber to enter the physical address where they will locate the Packet8 terminal adaptor (the device that connects a regular phone to a Packet8 internet connection). The address is verified and the Packet8 phone number is specially provisioned so that it will support E911 protocols at the PSAP when an emergency call is made. When a consumer calls 911, the call is routed to the PSAP trunk lines as emergency traffic, and is terminated directly to the nearest emergency operator with caller information and location simultaneously appearing on the PSAP operator's computer screen. http://www.8x8.com/