You have a choice in E9-1-1 providers. What are the important features and functionalities to consider in your selection?:
- Support of all emerging technologies
- Address Validation success and efficiency
- Start-up and maintenance costs – TCO
- Automation and accuracy
- Ease of integration
- Speed to deployment (time to revenue)
- Coverage and connectivity options
- Responsive Customer Support
- Customization capabilities
Below are some important questions to ask your potential E9-1-1 provider as you move through the selection process.
Can you deliver location information from any device?
The primary objective of Next Generation 9-1-1 is to enable E9-1-1 calls from any communications device. Your potential provider should be capable of accommodating all of today’s technologies, including voice, text, data, image, and video.
Can you make dynamic routing decisions at the time of the call, based on the most up-to-date, automated PSAP boundary and caller location information updates?
This is important from a Next Generation perspective because dynamic routing improves the safety of your end-users, as the route is based on real-time location updates (not a manually updated, pre-programmed decision).
Can you provide E911 to any PSAP, if the PSAP is E911 capable?
Your potential provider should be able to discuss with you a variety of PSAP connectivity options to maximize E911 availability. Even if the PSAP is not currently E9-1-1 connected with the provider, good 9-1-1 providers will have a process for working with the PSAP to try to turn up service, should you need it. For full accommodation of your potential market growth, make sure your provider can cover 100% of the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico with 9-1-1.
How does your network help me reduce capital spend and direct and indirect costs?
Upgrading your infrastructure does not require costly hardware-based capital investments or the operational headache of forklift upgrades. Instead, your potential E9-1-1 provider should be able to upgrade your network quickly and painlessly, using software-based, IP technology, leveraging the infrastructure they already have built out.
Also, IP-based infrastructure equates to less operating cost and greater efficiencies, ongoing.
Can you provide additional information with a 9-1-1 call (i.e. medical records, emergency contact information, etc)?
Another goal of Next Generation 9-1-1 is to be able to provide more than just location information to the PSAP, including medical records, as requested by the subscriber. Similarly, subscribers may be able to put in emergency contact information, so that if they call 9-1-1 a friend or relative will be notified.
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