Your ReliaRing phone service uses the internet to make and receive calls. That gives you a lot of flexibility, but it also means 911 works differently than it does on an old-fashioned landline. This is important safety information, so please read it carefully and share it with everyone who uses your phones.
Important safety notice. Internet-based 911 (also called E911) has real limitations compared with a traditional landline. By using ReliaRing you accept these limitations and agree to keep another way of reaching emergency services available — such as a mobile phone.
The one big difference: your address is registered, not detected
On a traditional landline, the phone company already knows the exact address of the copper wire in your wall. When you dial 911, that address is sent automatically.
An internet phone can be used anywhere there is a connection, so there is no wire that tells 911 where you are. Instead, emergency responders are sent to the address you register with us. If that address is wrong, or you are calling from somewhere else, help may go to the wrong place.
That is why registering an accurate address — and keeping it up to date — is the single most important thing you can do for 911 safety.
What to know before you rely on 911
- Your registered address is what responders see. Not your actual location if it is different. Always know the address on file for the phone you are using.
- 911 needs power and internet. During a power outage or internet outage, your ReliaRing phones cannot reach 911. Keep a mobile phone charged as a backup, and consider a battery backup (UPS) for your internet equipment.
- Calls may take a moment longer to connect. Internet 911 calls can route through a national emergency call center before reaching your local 911 dispatcher (the Public Safety Answering Point, or PSAP).
- Away from your registered address, use a mobile phone. If you use the ReliaRing app, web dialer, or a softphone from a different location, 911 will still be sent to your registered address. When you are away, dial 911 from a mobile phone instead — it can share your live GPS location.
Why we turn on 911 before you can make calls
Before your account can place outbound calls, we ask you to do two things:
- Register at least one emergency address so 911 has somewhere to send help.
- Acknowledge the 911 limitations described on this page.
Until both are done, outbound calling stays switched off. This is required by regulators in Canada (the CRTC) and the United States (the FCC), and it protects you by making sure no phone is ever live without a working 911 address behind it.
You will find both steps in your portal under Emergency Dialing. See Registering and Updating Your 911 Address for a step-by-step walkthrough.
Your responsibilities
When you use ReliaRing, you agree to:
- Register an accurate physical street address (a P.O. box is not acceptable).
- Update your address right away when you move or change locations.
- Tell everyone who uses your phones about these 911 limitations.
- Keep another way to reach emergency services, such as a mobile phone.
We also recommend placing a small 911 warning sticker near phones so people are reminded that the registered address is what responders will see.
Read the full policy
The complete emergency-calling policy, including the legal terms you acknowledge, is always available at reliaring.com/legal/e911.
Related articles
- Registering and Updating Your 911 Address
- Which ReliaRing Products Need 911 Setup
- Testing Your 911 Setup Safely with 933
- Moving Offices: Updating Your 911 Location
For a real emergency, always dial 911.