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AT&T Solves the 911 Problem

With an ingenious solution

By Tudor Raiciu, Technology and Science Editor

11th of October 2005, 16:20 GMT

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AT&T has designed a solution to solve the problem of the VoIP phones which didn't provide operators with the location of the caller when 911 was dialed. This problem affected mainly mobile users of VoIP phones.

The FCC granted VoIP telephony providers until November 28, 2005 to solve the problem.


AT&T, which in fact invented the 911 service in 1968, came with the solution called Heartbeat, which will continuously monitor the location of the VoIP phone users. Practically, when the phone is closed, AT&T will suspend the VoIP service. When the user opens the phone, he/she will be asked to provide their location.

If the user is in the same location as before, then the service is instantaneously reactivated; otherwise, he will be asked to point out the location and, only then, the service will be reactivated.

Even so, the solution is not flawless, since AT&T cannot verify whether the user provides the correct location.

Despite this drawback, AT&T considers that this solution is feasible, especially since the operators haven't succeeded to come up with an alternative so far.

AT&T will continue to inform its users about the limitations implied by VoIP telephony regarding the 911 number.


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