VoIP creates problems for using 911

[ReFredzRate]

Since VoIP (Voice over IP) has come in the picture, lots of people have left the analog lines, and stepped up to digital telephony. Now there seems to be a problem with VoIP.

Phones on an analog line can be traced, as well as cellphones. However, when you are a VoIP customer, you cannot be traced by the 911 emergency service. So what happens when you're in trouble? That's right. Nothing. Nobody shows up after you have made your distress call.

This seems to be quite a problem. Already, the state of Texas has filed a lawsuit against a company in that state. Texas claims the company has misled them by giving them incomplete information.

Read more about this here

[Phate]

Thats insane...

VoIP isnt that popular here where I live in Phoenix, Arizona... but that can be scary.

Thats just if you make a call and dont say anything... If you tell the police your address... then they can trace it.

[ReFredzRate]

Here in the Netherlands it's pretty popular. The company I work for was initially thinking about maybe 20000 customers, just in one city. Now, only in that city, there's already 60000 customers, not even mentioning all the little villages and towns around.

[Phate]

thats amazing...
I dont really know much about VoIP... is it an alternative to broadband?

[ReFredzRate]

Nope, VoIP is Voice over IP. It's kind of like chatting with a mic and a headset, but this runs through telephones. I just install it... I'm not entirely sure how to explain this to anyone. Might check the installation documents today, so I'll get back to this later on.

[Phate]

I know i used a VoIP-like program to play CounterStrike called Ventrillo... but it was just a program that I installed. Did it mess with my phoneline?

[ReFredzRate]

Nah... That doesn't do a thing to your phoneline.

VoIP software is pretty cool. You can call anyone in the world, for free But, VoIP phone installations appear to be a problem in Texas.

Fortunately, the VoIP we have here in the Netherlands is connected to a regular phone number, which is connected to an address. This makes sure trouble like in Texas don't occur

[Phate]

Thats good... do you know where else it is a problem?

[ReFredzRate]

Only where used in combination with real telephones, when the VoIP providers do not link a real phone number to these phones.

When there's not a number connected to the phone, it's only running on an IP address. Let's say you call to this IP address, you can trace it. But, to trace this, it HAS TO BE a static IP address. If the IP address is dynamic, it can change every time you reset the modem.

I did some checking and most companies link phone numbers to MAC addresses of their modems. This way you can always trace a number back to a customer and an address and it will not give any trouble.

[ReFredzRate]

Here's an explanation on VoIP:

http://www.wilco-telephony.co.uk/voip.html

[Phate]

But, to trace this, it HAS TO BE a static IP address. If the IP address is dynamic, it can change every time you reset the modem.

Isnt dial-up the only connection with dynamic IPs?

[Malcolm]

No, most boradband (DSL/Cable) assign you a different IP when your service is distrupted, like if you unplug the modem; ofcourse there are acceptions and some service providers will sell you a static IP.

Now about VoIP: basically you have to have broadband service, a connection thats faster then 768 kilobits (not bytes) per second. The phone, or adapter card, is connected to the DSL/Cable modem then connects to your VoIP service provider. The service provider gets your account info from the phone unique identifier (most of the time its MAC address) and then assigns your phone number to your phone. Now you can make outgoing and get incoming phone calls.

Thats the basics

[ReFredzRate]

Lot clearer then I was trying to explain Thanks Malcolm!

[Phate]

yeah thanks! that really cleared it up!

[ReFredzRate]

Wish I had Malcolm's brains. Made me the smartest dude in the world. But there's a thin border between genius and freak. Not sure which side Malcolm is on