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Vonage's VoIP 811: Helping Customers Dig Ground? TMCnet Contributing Editor Now Vonage customers will know if the ground they are about to dig is safe to break in before they even grab their shovels. The VoIP service provider announced Monday that it will now allow its subscribers to dial 811 via their Vonage (News - Alert)-enabled phones to access a call center which will offer free information about whether it is safe to dig in certain areas. This will help the customers’ efforts to dig safely when wanting to build a new addition to their property such as a swimming pool or a new deck.
“Vonage is pleased to offer its customers the convenience of 811 dialing to help ensure their excavation will be safe,” said Vonage America Inc.’s president Michael Tribolet in a statement. “This is just another example of Vonage answering its customer’s needs.” Once the subscriber dials 811, the call is then routed from Vonage’s network to a local call center. Once the center receives the call, the local utility company local to the area is notified about the inquiry. Once the local utility company has received the inquiry, it marks the approximate location of their underground utilities, therefore informing Vonage customers of any pipes or cables present if any in the area they are trying to dig.
According to Vonage’s news release, customers should call about three days before they plan to start their projects in order to have the information they need on time. Vonage’s 811 service is not accessible from all VoIP service coverage areas.
Vonage has been launching a number of free services lately. The VoIP service provider just introduced a new feature that will enable its subscribers to now dial 511 at no charge to receive live traffic information directly from their area 511 systems.
Specifically, once a subscriber dials 511, their call is then routed from Vonage’s network to their local 511 Advanced Traveler Information Service (ATIS). 511 calls are routed locally based upon the address the customer registered for their 911 service.
The service provider also joined forces with AccuWeather.com earlier this month to enable subscribers to access U.S. weather forecasts right from their Vonage-enabled phones. Vonage’s customers will be able to access the information by simply calling 700-WEATHER from any Vonage-enabled device and get current weather conditions, 5-day forecasts and severe-weather warnings, courtesy of AccuWeather.com. AccuWeather.com offers customized business or vacation travel weather information when subscribers enter any U.S. 5-digit ZIP code.
Vonage Holdings Corp.
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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit her columnist page. |