MetaSwitch, the leading vendor of Voice over IP (VoIP) Class 5 switching and applications solutions to North American independent and competitive service providers, announced at the National Telecommunications Carrier Association (NTCA) VoIPossibilities conference that it has partnered with Dash911 to simplify the implementation of 9-1-1 emergency calling by VoIP providers. The joint solution is already being deployed by several service providers including Public Interest Network Services, Inc. (PINS).



The new business and technology solution combines MetaSwitch's market-leading Class 5 softswitch with Dash911's hosted service platform, to enable VoIP service providers to route 911 calls to the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) based on the subscriber's current location. A full range of VoIP calling features, including custom call treatments and web-based configuration, are available to subscribers from the MetaSwitch platform. When subscribers move their VoIP device from one location to another, the Dash911 web portal --integrated with MetaSwitch's own Web Self-Care solution -- offers a "ready to go" Web-based mechanism for them to easily update their location information. Call routing is achieved either via traditional MF or SS7 trunks (for subscribers within the provider's local calling area), or via the Dash911 switched 9-1-1 service using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), for out-of-area subscribers.

While this functionality was previously technically possible, it typically required service providers to develop their own Web interface and back-end integration. This new solution enables MetaSwitch users to meet FCC and CRTC requirements for 9-1-1 call routing, along with an elegant Web interface for subscribers, by executing a single service agreement with Dash911.

PINS, a total-service communications provider based in New York City's "Silicon Alley," serves several thousand fixed VoIP lines in downtown Manhattan from its MetaSwitch VP3510 Class 5 softswitch. PINS has partnered with Dash911 in order to expand beyond its current markets without expending significant effort and resources on additional dedicated 911 trunks.

"As a carrier focused on profitable growth, we are excited by the opportunities that the MetaSwitch/Dash911 partnership opens up for us," said David Birnbaum, President and CEO at PINS. "Public safety should be a concern for all service providers, and MetaSwitch and Dash911 enable us to offer our customers the highest levels of support while expanding our footprint and service offerings."

"Support for emergency calling is now a requirement for all VoIP providers offering services in North America, based on rulings by the regulators in both the United States and Canada," said Jon Arnold, VoIP blogger and Principal of the telecommunications analyst firm J Arnold & Associates. "MetaSwitch is an established leader in softswitching, so this announcement is a significant milestone in the VoIP industry's adoption of ubiquitous 9-1-1 service."

"We're pleased to work with MetaSwitch to help deliver this important component of public safety," said Dash911's Gregory Giagnocavo. "MetaSwitch's state-of-the-art technology was great to work with as we completed interoperability testing. The FCC and savvy customers are demanding access to 9-1-1, and VoIP providers using MetaSwitch can now clearly differentiate their product offerings by providing 9-1-1 emergency calling services."

"MetaSwitch has always taken public safety seriously, and was one of the first Class 5 softswitches to support 9-1-1 services for all VoIP subscribers," said Chris Mairs, MetaSwitch CTO and Senior Vice President of Business Development. "Our successful partnership with Dash911 has been positively received by our customers, as it takes us to the next level in terms of ease of deployment of nationwide VoIP services."