Landlines (house or business phone) – these have 2 big advantages.  First, we get immediate full information on our screen.  We get the address of the house or business, the phone number, and the name of the resident or business.  You also don’t have to worry about your phone ‘dying’.

Cell phones – The only immediate information we get is the phone number.  We DO NOT know where you are or who you are, and if you can’t tell us, it takes time to find out.  With phase 2 phones, we have GPS capabilities, but it takes 15 seconds to get the coordinates and the updates.  Also, your call hits the nearest cell phone tower, so your call may go to another jurisdiction.  It takes precious time for that agency to determine what and where your emergency is, and then transfer it to us.  Lastly, you should always make sure your phone is well charged so it doesn’t ‘die’ in the middle of your emergency.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) – with Basic Emergency Calling, your call is not routed to us, it is sent to a remote private call center with no phone number or location information (your call could be answered by someone in Texas for example).  If you are disconnected or can’t speak, we have no way of finding you.  Enhanced 911 Calling is routed to us with phone number and location (if you travel, you need to update your provider, or use another phone).  You should check your provider’s website for emergency calling features to determine which type of VoIP you have.