Emergency Calling with Tinkle CX

Tinkle do not support calling emergency services from a device and would always advise that you use a mobile for any emergency calls where possible.  If the Tinkle system is the only available system you can use, if you need to dial an emergency number from the app, you need to ensure there is a 0 in front of the number. IE 0101, 0111, 0999.

The characteristic of our technology enables users to operate from any location with internet access, utilizing a range of Non-Geographical and Geographical numbers. However, these capabilities can complicate the verification of the caller's location and as such we do not recommend making emergency calls from the VoIP system.

For more information please see below.

Calling 999 from a VoIP Phone: What You Need to Know

One of the key advantages of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony is flexibility. Unlike a traditional landline, a VoIP service is not tied to one physical location. This means businesses can use geographical telephone numbers regardless of where their employees or offices are physically located.

However, this flexibility is important to consider when making emergency calls.

What happens when you dial 999 from a traditional landline?

With a traditional landline, the telephone number is normally associated with a fixed physical address. When a 999 call is made, information associated with that telephone service can help the emergency services identify the caller's registered location.

This can be particularly important if the caller is unable to speak or provide their location during an emergency.

What happens when you dial 999 from a VoIP phone?

VoIP services work differently because they can be used from different locations. For example, a user with a UK telephone number could potentially make and receive calls from another office, from home, or while travelling.

As a result, the physical location from which an emergency call is being made may not always match the address registered against the VoIP service.

When calling 999 from a VoIP service, you should therefore be prepared to clearly provide the emergency services with your current location, rather than assuming they will automatically know where you are.

Why is your registered address important?

VoIP providers are required to collect appropriate location information so that emergency calls can be associated with an address. It is therefore important that the address information registered against your service is accurate and kept up to date.

However, because VoIP services can be used from different locations, the registered address may not necessarily be the location you are calling from at the time of an emergency.

What else should VoIP users be aware of?

Unlike a traditional telephone line, VoIP services rely on an internet connection and usually require power and functioning network equipment. If your broadband connection, network or power supply is unavailable, you may not be able to make calls using your VoIP service.

For this reason, we recommend having an alternative method of contacting the emergency services available, such as a mobile phone.

If you need to call 999 using your VoIP service, always clearly tell the emergency services operator your current location and do not assume that the registered service address reflects where you are calling from.