[Comment: Since this originates in Texas, I cannot help but wonder if
SBC had any involvement in this, even if only maybe by putting a bug
in someone's ear at the AG's office. We will probably never know, but
when I hear about something anti-VoIP coming out of Texas, that's just
the way my mind wanders.]
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5630118.html?tag=zdfd.newsfeed
By Ben Charny, CNET News.com
The attorney general of Texas is suing Internet phone provider Vonage,
charging that the company isn't clear to its customers about
deficiencies in its 911 service.
Vonage 911 calls aren't routed in the traditional manner. Rather, most
end up at the administrative offices of the 6,000 emergency calls
centers rather than dispatchers. According to Abbott, the dangers of
the circuitous route were exposed in early March when a 17-year-old
Houston girl was unable to get through to police after dialing 911 on
a Vonage phone after both her parents were shot by intruders.
In the U.S. District Court suit, announced Tuesday, Attorney General
Greg Abbott alleges that Vonage doesn't "clearly disclose the lack of
traditional 911 access" nor adequately inform its customers they must
first sign up for the free 911 service. Such an omission violates
state law dealing with deceptive trade practices, the state attorney
general alleges. The state is asking for civil penalties of more than
$20,000 and an injunction requiring more conspicuous disclosure.
A Vonage spokeswoman said the company was surprised to hear of the
litigation and pointed out there are numerous references, both on the
Internet and material mailed to customers, explaining the 911
service's limitations and its proactive nature. Abbott's office
contacted New Jersey-based Vonage about a week ago asking for
marketing materials and other information; the company hadn't heard
anything since it replied with the materials two days ago, the
spokeswoman said.
Full story at:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5630118.html?tag=zdfd.newsfeed
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/index.php?p=307
Texas sues Vonage for lack of 911 call deficiency disclosure
-Posted by Russell Shaw @ 10:17 am
Earlier today, we reported that Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott
said he's sued Vonage for not being clear about the limitations of
its 911 service.
[.....]
A somewhat different circumstance prompted the lawsuit, however. Early
this month, a 17 year-old Houston girl was unable to get through to
the police on the family's Vonage line to inform them that her
parents had been shot in a break-in.
Full story at:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/index.php?p=307
Jack Decker (