Technical Documents

Vonage periodically produces technical documents to provide the public safety community with an overview of various technical features of Vonage’s service and E9-1-1 solutions.

Vonage Digital Voice Overview

Vonage offers DigitalVoiceTM service, which is an innovative Internet offering that enables customers to communicate over the Internet. DigitalVoiceTM is a form of Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") service that allows customers with broadband Internet connections and specialized Customer Premises Equipment ("CPE") to communicate without using a telephone line. Vonage’s customers cannot access DigitalVoice service by "dialing in" over the Public Switch Telephone Network ("PSTN"). Vonage’s service can be used anywhere in the world where a broadband Internet connection is available and, therefore, is inherently nomadic.

Vonage’s service offers integrated capabilities and features that allow the customer to manage personal communications. Users of the service are able to leverage the capabilities of the Internet in multiple ways, including: a function that allows customers to receive their voicemails via email to an Internet-enabled device of their choice; the ability to use their device at any location that has a high-speed Internet connection; and the ability to manage their account through the World Wide Web.

Vonage 9-1-1 System Builds to the Specifications of Public Safety

Vonage proposes for regions that require the use of multiple Emergency Service Numbers (ESN)1 for E9-1-1 call routing the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Vonage and the public safety authority. This MOU would implement E9-1-1 immediately through the use of a single ESN and document Vonage’s on-going commitment to a migration to multiple ESN services as soon as national methods, coordination and/or new technology become available.

With the enactment of the Federal Communications Commissions VoIP E9-1-1 Order, Vonage has demonstrated an on-going commitment to E9-1-1 in thousands of communities nationwide. Through extensive outreach, Vonage has encouraged and supported greater national and state coordination within the 9-1-1 community to ensure that all voice service offerings are afforded the same technical capabilities. Without the support of national public safety resources, nomadic VoIP providers like Vonage must kluge together various elements in an uncoordinated and unmanageable approach that further frustrates the native 9-1-1 infrastructure and present FCC Order.

Therefore, Vonage is requesting an initial implementation to occur using a single ESN until the multiple ESN service deployment is completed.

VoIP Call Flow

When	Who	What	Why
1	VoIP Subscriber	Dials 9-1-1	Requests emergency assistance
2	Vonage to VPC	9-1-1 call server sends a SIP INVITE containing "911" and the subscribers URI that was provisioned in the subscriber database.	The 9-1-1 Call Server requests subscriber's routing (ESRN) and ESQK(pANI) information.
3	VPC	VPC queries the SLDB, using subscribers URI. The SLDB returns the subscriber's address and callback information	The VPC obtains the subscriber's location and callback information
4	VPC	VPC queries the ERDB using subscriber information. The ERDB returns the appropriate ESRN and LRO. The VPC selects a free ESQK and stages a record in an internal database for later retrieval	To determine the correct PSAP for call routing.
5	VPC to VPC	911 Call Server sends the ESRN and ESQK to Call Server	To determine the correct ESGW provider
6	VPC to VoIP Carrier	911 call server sends the ESRN and ESQK to the ESGW	To allow the ESGW to select the correct selective router and trunk to send the call to.
7	VoIP Carrier	The ESGW uses TDM signaling to route the call, including the ESQK as the Calling Party Number	To route the call to the correct selective router.
8	VoIP Carrier	The Selective Router user the ESQK to determine the appropriate PSAP for the call	To route the call to the correct PSAP
9	PSAP	The PSAP uses the ESQK to query the ALI database for a location record	To determine the caller's address and callback number in order to dispatch assistance
10	ALI Database to VPC	ALI retrieves shell record instructing to route to VPC and forwards to VPC	To retrieve staged call record stored at VPC
11	VPC to PSAP	The VPC retrieves staged record and sends the subscriber's address and callback information back to the PSAP through the ALI.	To display the correct address and callback number of the caller at the PSAP.

Vonage The Broadband Phone Company service is redefining communications by offering consumers and small business - VoIP Internet phones, an affordable alternative to traditional telephone service. Vonage America Inc. provides VOIP services, including account subscription, maintenance, billing and customer care, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp.
Vonage®, Vonage The Broadband Phone Company® and Vonage Digital Voice® are registered service marks owned by and used under license from Vonage Marketing Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp. Using these and other intellectual property such as logos, slogans, trade dress, and graphic symbols on packaging, products, or services requires express written permission from Vonage Marketing Inc. © 2001 - 2007, Vonage Marketing Inc., All Rights Reserved.