8x8 has successfully provisioned nomadic E911 emergency calling throughout its network of domestic residential and business Packet8 subscribers.
Effective immediately, all Packet8 subscribers with a U.S. service address can now contact emergency service personnel by dialing 911 from their Packet8 phone. Previously, Packet8 offered E911 service as an optional feature to subscribers, however, earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order requiring all interconnected VoIP providers to provide E911 capabilities to their subscribers as a standard component of their service.
"We are pleased to report that after a focused and diligent six month-long effort to comply with the FCC's mandate, all Packet8 subscribers accessing our services from the United States can now be assured that they can reach an emergency service operator by dialing 9-1-1 on any Packet8 device, including our videophones, during an emergency," said 8x8 Chairman and CEO Bryan Martin. "8x8 recognized the importance of offering true, enhanced 911 service eighteen months ago when we became the first VoIP service provider to introduce E911 support to our subscribers. Our goal is to continually advance the state of the internet phone service industry by exceeding consumer expectations relative to the features, performance, technological advancements and quality of service characteristics demonstrated by our Packet8 offerings."