This “cease and desist” request was filed with the FCC on June 16, 2009. In order for all videophone equipment to communicate with each other, such as Z150 with VP200, or Purple MVP with OJO, they must follow standards or “international rules” that the industry agrees on to make equipment talk to one another. This standard is called H.323.
For example, for cell phones, if an user using an ATT cell phone calls another user with a Verizon cell phone, they can talk with each other and a Verizon cell phone can see the Caller-ID of the ATT cell phone. With videophones, all videophones except the VP-200 can see the Caller-ID of the other videophones because they follow the H.323 standard. In this request, CSDVRS, LLC (ZVRS) Purple and SNAP are asking the FCC to put the Caller-ID in the right place so other videophone equipment such as the Z150, MVP or the Ojo can see the Caller-ID information. If the VP-200 does not show the Caller-ID to an agent (VI) who works for CSDVRS, Purple or SNAP, then the agent cannot make the Caller-ID available to a videophone. If you use a VP-200 to call another VP200, the VP-200 user can see the caller-ID. This is not “fair” or to use a legal term not “functionally equivalent” because a non VP-200 phone cannot see the Caller-ID of a VP-200.
To see a copy of the request:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520222403
Sorenson responded on June 26, 2009 stating the following:
1) that it complies with all relevant rules governing Caller-ID
2) that it has proposed a standard that would allow providers to share calling party information
3) its method for passing calling party information is consistent with the interoperability ruling
4) Caller-ID has no impact on emergency calls or on registration requirements
To see a copy of Sorenson’s response:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520223353
You need to read both filings, the filing of the request from, CSDVRS, Purple and Snap, and the reply from Sorenson to draw a conclusion.
As of July 23rd, 2009, the FCC has not yet acted on the request from CSDVRS (ZVRS), Purple and Snap. o