Vonage, the leading provider of broadband phone service, has selected TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) (NASDAQ:TSYS), a leading provider of precise location and wireless data technology, to provide critical Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) technology components for Vonage's Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) customers.
Under the new agreement, TCS will deliver ALI (Automatic Location Identification) steering, call routing, call center and other services enabling Vonage to meet the new E9-1-1 requirements for interconnected VoIP Service Providers. The TCS VoIP E9-1-1 service is designed for mobility and provides a complete solution for static, nomadic and, ultimately, mobile VoIP users. Vonage pioneered the broadband phone industry; setting the standard for pricing, features, call quality and reliability for the entire VoIP category. Together, Vonage and TCS will set the bar for delivering a flexible, standards-based E9-1-1 solution to its customers and the public safety community.
"Vonage is absolutely committed to providing our customers with the best service available. Their safety is paramount," said Jeffrey Citron, Chairman and CEO of Vonage Holdings, Corp. "The relationship with TCS leap-frogs fixed VoIP E9-1-1 services, providing our subscribers with a new level of confidence and security. TCS was the first company to provide a solution for E9-1-1 in wireless, and they have shown similar ingenuity in helping us to address the challenges of providing E9-1-1 for VoIP. VoIP is growing rapidly, and we are pleased that this solution is designed to bring our subscribers immediate and direct contact with the needed emergency services. With TCS, we are now poised to rapidly deploy life-saving services across our U.S. and Canadian footprints."
In June 2005, the FCC published its E9-1-1 Order requiring all interconnected VoIP providers to automatically provide E9-1-1 services to all customers as a standard, mandatory feature without customers having to specifically request this service, and without the ability to opt-out.
