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E911 Hosted Solutions Featured Article
November 13, 2009
E911 Hosted Solutions Podcast: E911 Implementations Not 'One Size Fits All'
By Amy Tierney, TMCnet Web Editor
Anyone in communications technology space can tell you that competition remains strong among service providers to land a customer’s business. That is especially true for providers of Enhanced 911 or E911 services.
But when it comes to offering E911 services, providers agree on one thing: that different companies have very different 911 hosted solutions needs.
E911 services use location-based technology to pinpoint the exact whereabouts of distressed callers, which often saves emergency responders time. Using 911 ETC’s hosted offering, companies can build a solution to fit their specific needs. A growing number of businesses are deploying Software-as-a-Service models because of the ease and ongoing support that they offer.
In a recent interview, Theresa Stockton, operations manager of Everett, Wash.-based 911 ETC talked about how the company can customize its hosted solution for organizations’ varying needs.
“Not a week goes by that I don’t learn something [about] E911,” Stockton told TMCnet in a recent podcast. “There are hundreds of variables. Every telco and 911 entity in each separate region has it owns set of rules and procedures for PS/ALI. Each customer has its own set of variables and needs.”
For example, one 911 ETC customer implemented E911 services at different sites nationwide. 911 ETC accepts via its proprietary software loader, Auto-MAC, a daily data feed from the customer’s call accounting system where the customer also stores its location information for each phone. ETC’s Auto-MAC converts the client data into a readable file and then processes the information - including updating location information when phones are moved or added – and sends it off to the client’s various databases, Stockton said.
Yet, the work required to handle a smaller customer needs is far different, she said.
“It’s very simplified,” Stockton said.
Some of 911 ETC’s smaller businesses only need to maintain their data on a customized 911 ETC Excel template. The company receives data from a small business client in this format. 911 ETC processes the information making sure the data is maintained properly, Stockton said.
Amy Tierney is a Web editor for TMCnet, covering business communications Her areas of focus include conferencing, SIP, Fax over IP, unified communications and telepresence. Amy also writes about education and healthcare technology, overseeing production of e-Newsletters on those topics as well as communications solutions and UC. To read more of Amy's articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Amy Tierney
