What is Digg?37 Comments
- Broman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+140I can just see the look on the EMTs faces when Google maps tells them to swim across the Pacific.
- allaboutdatiki, on 10/12/2007, -1/+52A wild twist on what might happen when you move your VOIP router without updating the E911 service?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+33That was gold.
- Skitzzo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21Seriously... luckily they were able to contact the authorities in S. Korea but this could have had a much worse ending...
- marcuschi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+20"The call lasted a total of about 45 uninterrupted minutes."
Sounds like a pretty solid ad for Vonage if you ask me.
...and no... no, I didn't think of September 11 when I read "911 operator" and "emergency call"... so you would be the only one. - Sperlock, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18I'm sure she preferred that number to dialing 0118 999 881 999 119 7253 for the UK's replacement emergency phone number. ;) (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbYK1eLPdIc if you don't get it!)
- toolow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15The article said she was a military dependent, I'm guessing so.
- ThreeDee912, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16For those who thought these comments were stupid and didn't get the joke, it was a joke from a recentdigg story.
http://digg.com/tech_news/Google_Suggests_You_Swim_Across_The_Atlantic_Ocean - kkw211, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9This story is kinda smoking my guts. At the expense of getting crushed, I have a confession to make. I'm a cop (supervisor) at the military base that took this call, and I'm privy to the 911 tape. It was was our guy - a young, sharp, motivated Staff Sergeant that made sure the Korean National Police made it to the right residence. If you've ever been to Seoul, you know that this was a monumental feat. He kept his cool and re-assured the victim that help was coming while guiding the KNP to the right place. The tape is a little over 48 minutes long. 45 of that was our Staff Sergeant, and it sucks that he gets no props in the media. Hey, Mike, here's to you, Buddy. Great job...
- UO07, on 10/12/2007, -7/+15how is that AMAZING? Goddamn titles..
- manitoba98xp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8I don't see how they're supposed to know your address: that's why you call them and update it. Then, they will have the _correct_ information. Don't blame Vonage for a shortcoming of the 'net!
- MasterThief117, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6This sounds more like an advertisement for Vonage than anything else.
- oskite, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6+01 911?
- boobies, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I wonder if she works with this guy... probably not:
http://www.break.com/index/how_to_lose_your_job.html - AshtonKe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4It's unlikely you'll be using Vonage to call from a location other than your home. Since it's Internet dependent, you can't call anywhere except from where a computer is, or where wireless is (if you happen to have a Vonage capable Wifi phone). If you're in a location other than your house, chances are you will be using your Cell Phone (most of which are capable of allowing EMTs, Police, and Firefighters to locate your position), or a phone at that position (if available. And that will also let them know where you are).
It is still the users job to update their address under Vonage when they move, of course. It's similar to having your mail forwarded to your new address, and all those other encumbrances that are associated with moving.
Strangely, I'd expect a military family to understand the importance of updating information when moving (I'm assuming they're military. Not sure what "Military Dependent" is, but I'm assuming her husband was in the military), since they tend to be pretty good about that (moving often tends to teach you quickly how to move properly).
Oh well, at least this turned out, decently. I won't say Okay, because clearly something hit the fan in their household, and they might breakup (speculation), and he'll probably be in a lot of trouble. But, that's their personal business (unless if they happen to care to comment about it). - fuisgofg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Korean fiber optics FTW.
- lucid270, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3yes... Its obviously the best EVER.
- caution, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1kkw211 - I hear ya. Maybe you guys can put the SSgt. in for something
I can tell you the article reads like a PIO or PAO wrote it -- perhaps the reporter took a press release from the county or the base, or both, and just re-worded it. That story is chock full of spin buzzwords.
-advanced technical abilities of a local public safety answering system
-dispatchers are well-prepared for such calls
-best training in the state of Illinois
-has all kinds of capabilities
I know you guys are looking for Vonage marketing hype, but you also have to look for good, old-fashioned "key messages" - 1310nm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1And technology, and logistics. Don't forget those small "roadblocks".
- lucifuge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"This is first time we've gotten a call from overseas, but CENCOM has all kinds of capabilities."
Ummm...like answering phone calls. Yes, here's yet another example of the press not understanding technology.
For those of you who don't know, Vonage forwards 911 calls to the closest PSAP. All PSAPs have regular 10-digit telephone numbers as well as "911". So this "amazing" phone call was just like any other on any VoIP service provider, except when she dialed 911 it routed to the PSAP at their last registered address based on a simple lookup table. It was delivered through the normal telephone network (from Vonage's systems) just like any other phone call. Yes, the first leg was VoIP, but many call legs are VoIP and people don't even realize it.
Whoopie. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I took my vonage with me to Shanghai last year. It actually worked very well with the exception of the connection being forced closed every 15 minutes probably by The Great Firewall. I went to update the E911 just to see if I could, but couldn't specify an address outside of the US.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2BREAAAKING
- ThreeDee912, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1""The clarity of her voice was amazing," Michaels said. "It sounded like she was right here."
[...] The call, which was transmitted digitally with voice over Internet protocol, or VoIP, was placed from a computer using Vonage phone service."
Heh. Free publicity for Vontage... :) - Tanishh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Definately not me...I utterly loathe that song. Doesn't help that when I was watching TV a relatively large amount of the time in Colorado while skiing, it seemed like half the commercials were Vonage.
- sharly2007, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0For those of you who don't know, Vonage forwards 911 calls to the closest PSAP. All PSAPs have regular 10-digit telephone numbers as well as "911". So this "amazing" phone call was just like any other on any VoIP service provider, except when she dialed 911 it routed to the PSAP at their last registered address based on a simple lookup table. It was delivered through the normal telephone network (from Vonage's systems) just like any other phone call. Yes, the first leg was VoIP, but many call legs are VoIP and people don't even realize it. http://www.gwafi.com/home.html http://www.gwafi.com/links.html
- ponosocheg, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Wow! I can't really believe it, south korea is too far away from here...
- Skaistrendy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0at "gabrielsond"
i was a MP a Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. as MP's you cannot do anything off base without South Korean Police there first. - Cwo655321, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@marcuschi
yep. there are also a few other lines that make it sound like a vonage ad
"The computer-based international system offers phone service using high-speed Internet."
"The call, which was transmitted digitally with voice over Internet protocol, or VoIP, was placed from a computer using Vonage phone service." - gabrielsond, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Sorry to say this, but I doubt the South Korean police did anything, if they even responded with an officer that spoke comprehensible English. The cops in Seoul don't often speak English, even near Yongsan.
They probably had to go wake them up in their car. I saw more cops in Seoul laying in their cars with their seats back than ones walking the beat, demonstrations/protests excluded.
She should have just called the MPs but I guess she likely didn't know how. - abcdefghij, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1"The clarity of her voice was amazing," Michaels said. "It sounded like she was right here."
[...] The call, which was transmitted digitally with voice over Internet protocol, or VoIP, was placed from a computer using Vonage phone service. And with a low low introductory price of, you also can enjoy the security and reliability of Vonage. Vonage, A better phone service for less.
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© 2001-2007 Vonage Marketing, Inc., All Rights Reserved. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I wonder how many people reading this will be left subconsciously whistling the Vonage theme song.
- lyrs, on 10/12/2007, -8/+6Was the husband was an American soldier?
- Fracture98, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1What's not amazing is that Vonage (and most VOIP in general) underplays the fact that they are unable to properly tie your phone to a location. The onus is on you.
While this particular story is a win, the much more likely scenario is someone moving across town, phoning 911, passing out from smoke, and dieing because the fire department responds to the wrong address.
Vonage doesn't care, of course, because they're protected by their fine print. - SaxxonPike, on 10/12/2007, -18/+9Google Maps has something against the Pacific Ocean or something. I don't think that works. They would have you travel across the Atlantic and then across all of Europe and Asia instead.
- JCSaint, on 10/12/2007, -15/+5I thought this was another 9/11 conspiracy thing at first glance, but then again, I've had half a bottle of port wine tonight so that's to be expected.
Oh look, more wine.... - crgnetworks, on 10/12/2007, -48/+11anyone else think this had something to do with 9/11 - september 11th upon first glance of the title?
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