Crossposted from KCIT

Many people are giving up their traditional landline phone service and moving to cell phones or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service. Be aware that these services works differently than traditional landline 911 service.

If you’re using a cell phone to call 911, only your general location may display at the 911 center. Because of this, it is very important that you know your location and can relay the address, street names, or nearby landmarks. Text-to-911 is a service in King County that can help those who are deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired, and anyone who might be unsafe if they were to be heard by an intruder or abusive partner. While texting to 911 is a vital tool, the general rule is to “call if you can, text if you can’t.” If you do need to text 911 in an emergency, be sure to send the location – including city – and the type of help needed (police, fire, or medical).

VoIP allows you to make and receive calls to and from traditional phone numbers using a broadband internet connection. Some users may not even realize that they no longer have landline phone service, because providers may simply call it “home phone service.” VoIP service is attractive because it may be bundled with internet and TV for one price, and may offer free nationwide calling. However, the callers’ address may not display correctly at the 911 center; VoIP 911 calls can be routed to the wrong 911 center, causing delays while the address is determined and the call is transferred. Also, VoIP phone service requires power; when people need help during winter storms or disasters, their phone may not work to call 911 during a power outage. Finally, read the fine print: some VoIP services cannot call 911, and the caller may receive a “service not available” recording. Before you sign up for VoIP service, understand its 911 capabilities. Learn more here.