Comm Center Considers E911 Enhancement

The Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC) in Salt Lake County (Utah) is evaluating new software that claims to provide enhanced location capabilities for E911 phone calls. WirelessWerx markets small “nodes” that are installed around an office building, educational or office campus, or other multi-space location. The nodes are programmed with specific location information, including building ID, floor, room number and even area within a room. When a caller dials 911…well, exactly how does this work? In fact, WirelesWerx requires Bluetooth on the 911 calling device, and only 60% of U.S. cellular phones have this feature. Next, the phone owner must have also downloaded and installed a WirelessWerx software application in order to receive the node location data. And lastly, the comm center receiving the 911 call must have an IP connection to the WirelessWerx location server to actually receive the location data. Here’s your reading material: first read the story and watch the KSL-TV video here, then visit the WirelessWerx Web site, and then download a White Paper. Note in the White Paper that the 81st word is “monetize,” perhaps indicating the slant of the document.