Starting today, Vonage subscribers will be able to access U.S. weather forecasts right from their Vonage (News - Alert)-enabled phones. This will be possible thanks to a new partnership between the VoIP service provider and weather information source AccuWeather.com.

Vonage’s customers will be able to access the information by simply calling 700-WEATHER from any Vonage-enabled device and get current weather conditions, 5-day forecasts and severe-weather warnings, courtesy of AccuWeather.com. AccuWeather.com offers customized business or vacation travel weather information when subscribers enter any U.S. 5-digit zip code.

“Making life more convenient for customers is our goal,” said Michael Tribolet, president of Vonage Holdings Corp.’s subsidiary Vonage America Inc., in a statement released on Monday. “We’re thrilled that we can give all Vonage users the added convenience of accessing dependable weather forecasts from AccuWeather.com.”

Specifically, AccuWeather.com will provide weather data to Vonage via synthetic speech markup language (SSML) AccuWeather’s forecasts, covering all U.S. locations in the U.S., which are then translated by Vonage into a “realistic-sounding” synthetic voice which will be heard by subscribers they call 700-WEATHER for a forecast.

“We’re pleased to be able to provide our uniquely accurate forecasts to Vonage subscribers,” stated AccuWeather, Inc.’s senior vice president of New Media Jim Candor. “Instead of having to wait for a weather forecast, Vonage subscribers can access the latest weather information anytime and free of charge.”

Today’s news follows Vonage’s announcement about now having over 90 percent of its subscriber lines equipped with E911 service, a feature that associates a physical address with the calling party’s telephone number automatically.

The news also comes on the heels of the VoIP service provider joining Motorola (News - Alert) to launch a new co-branded VoIP adaptor with router, the Motorola VT2142. The device is equipped with a 2-line telephone adaptor, configured with Vonage’s service. The Motorola VT2142 will be available online, at no cost, thanks to a $49.99 instant rebate (customers will be charged a $9.95 shipping and handling fee and a $29.99 activation fee). The companies plan to soon also offer the product in retail stores.

Vonage Corporate Holdings

http://www.vonage.com
AccuWeather, Inc.

http://www.accuweather.com

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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit her columnist page.