Taking stock of technologies used for alarm signal transmission shows that the security industry has done a great job of working with cellular and broadband providers to improve reliability and instill confidence.
With more and more residential accounts foregoing a traditional phone line in favor of cellular or VoIP, security dealers increasingly are installing alarm systems that use alternative forms of communications such as cellular, wireless mesh or Internet protocol (IP) communications over the customer’s broadband Internet connection.
Honeywell, Northford, Conn., announced its IP (Internet Protocol) and cellular fire alarm communicator has been found to be compliant with Government Services Administration (GS) security policies following an extensive evaluation by its Public Building Service (PBS) IT Security Team.
ISC Solutions booth 1709 - Telular Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLS), a leader in alarm and event monitoring solutions and services, announced today the availability of the only self-install cellular communicator that is compatible with virtually all Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) panels.
Following a spate of well-documented forays into the home automation market by several renowned service providers, open source technology from software as a service (SaaS) partners is expected to be present in the vast majority of systems this year. In fact, of the 1.8 million home automation systems shipped during the year, approximately 1.3 million will use this technology.
Getting the price right is key to operating a successful customer-conversion program from POTS to wireless alarm signal transmission. Add-ons can help maximize cellular system appeal and profitability.
As more and more homeowners opt to forego traditional phone service in favor of cellular service or VoIP, alarm systems with cellular communication are being installed like never before. Some dealers are encouraging all customers to use cellular, even when they have a traditional phone line, because that option minimizes potential future headaches if the customer should cancel voice service at some point in the future.
No longer just a solution for remote accounts, cellular now is the preferred alarm communications method for many alarm dealers. Here’s what dealers need to know about their cellular choices — and what’s new with the technology.
How people communicate with one another has undergone enormous changes in the last few years — and as a result, the home phone line that for decades was a cornerstone of customers’ alarm systems has begun to seem like an endangered species. According to the Federal Communications Commission, about two-thirds of U.S. homes now have a broadband connection such as DSL or a cable modem. And increasing numbers of Americans are also using that connection to support voice service using VOIP. Combine this with the near-ubiquity of cell phones and we now have a situation where many households have no traditional telephone.
Once cellular-based alarm systems are installed, they are highly reliable because they usually can communicate with multiple cell towers, manufacturers say.Some alarm dealers have begun to steer customers towards systems