911 Services

911 services leader 911 Enable (News - Alert) has unveiled yet another revolutionary platform to add to its already robust portfolio of E911 solutions for IP telephony, and this time it’s geared toward hosted IP-PBX service providers. 

Called the Service Provider Emergency Gateway (News - Alert) (SP-EGW), this hardware appliance is designed to enable hosted IP-PBX providers to deliver advanced E911 functionality in cloud-based communications service offerings and simplify adherence to state and local E911 laws.

The SP-EGW works seamlessly with 911 Enable’s Emergency Routing Service, a monthly subscription service delivering 911 calls and precise caller-location data to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) across the U.S. and Canada, making the SP-EGW the industry’s first end-to-end E911 management platform for hosted IP-PBX (News - Alert) providers.

The SP-EGW is compatible with the Broadsoft BroadWorks system and can be deployed within a service provider’s network. With the launch of the SP-EGW, 911 Enable hopes to address several concerns specific to IP-PBX providers, such as the need for a solution to meet state E911 legislation, the need to curtail liability, and the need to lower costs for initial setup and ongoing E911 management.

Broadsoft BroadWorks functions as a software platform that delivers and coordinates voice, video and messaging communications through a service provider’s IP-based network.

 “The SP-EGW and the ERS work together to comprise a complete E911 solution, from A-to-Z. Its release represents an evolution in the E911 industry for service providers” said Lev Deich, director of 911 Enable, in a statement. “Hosted IP-PBX providers using BroadWorks can now offer their tenants E911 functionality, which was previously only available to organizations with their own on-site IP-PBX. The SP-EGW gives service providers a competitive edge in the marketplace, and will help them secure customers concerned with E911.”

Thanks to explosive growth of cloud-based solutions within the marketplace, IP-PBX providers have found a new niche: targeting larger clients. With this, of course, also comes the issue of complying with state-mandated E911 regulations. 911 Enable has designed the SP-EGW to include automatic IP device tracking, which helps service providers delineate “emergency zones” down to the actual building, floor and room level, and eliminates obstacles regarding phone mobility.

With this additional safety net that helps meet the strictest state and/or municipal E911 laws, the SP-EGW guarantees tenants will have access to accurate, up-to-date E911 services.

With automatic IP tracking on a tenant’s network enabled, the SP-EGW also helps to minimize human error associated with provisioning phones, simplifies management, and reduces costs. Even as tenant IP devices are altered, added, or moved, the SP-EGW automatically updates their locations in its database.

In addition, the SP-EGW also includes specialty features like on-site security notification capabilities, 911 misdial protection, call recording and more.

911 Enable will be discussing this innovative solution in a webinar on Oct. 25. To register, click here. To learn more, visit the SP-EGW info page at 911 Enable’s website.

Tammy Wolf is a TMCnet web editor. She covers a wide range of topics, including IP communications and information technology. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.