| An astounding and unexpected number of people | | | | VoIP will fail also, unless your PC has a backup |
| are dropping their (POTS) plain old telephone | | | | power source.* You may not be able to use 911 |
| system, for the latest trends in phone service, | | | | services.* Your signal may go through giving you |
| VoIP. According to Frost & Sullivan there were | | | | a false sense of security, as it may not work |
| 100,000 VoIP users at the end of 2003. Just | | | | next time.* You may have already switched to |
| halfway through 2004 the number jumped to | | | | VoIP and not realize that your alarm is not being |
| more than 500,000.The draw to such a change is | | | | monitored.I myself have elected to utilize VoIP to |
| most often cost related. Traditional phone | | | | save money on long distance. I also maintain a |
| companies charge use fees and by the minute | | | | standard limited use phone line to take care of |
| charges, coupled with long distance fees. VoIP | | | | my security communications, 911 and phone |
| companies are charging a flat fee somewhere | | | | backup should power fail. The (limited use) phone |
| between $15.00 to $30.00 US per month, for | | | | line, cost me less than $15.00 per month and is |
| unlimited calls to anywhere in the US and | | | | offset by the savings on my long distance |
| Canada.VoIP works by digitizing voice signals from | | | | bill.Cellular communicators are available that will |
| your phone and sending them over the Internet | | | | make your alarm call over any available cellular |
| via your home or business computer. While people | | | | network. The device will have to be purchased |
| are scrambling to make the switch and begin to | | | | for about $200.00 to $500.00, and an additional |
| count the money they are saving, they may not | | | | fee of approximately $10.00 per month is added |
| realize that there is a good possibility that they | | | | to your monitoring bill.Some alarm companies |
| are cutting the link between their alarm system | | | | offer radio signal transmitted monitoring services, |
| and the monitoring station. Another link that is lost | | | | which do not depend on phone lines of any sort |
| in most cases is traditional 911 services, as VoIP | | | | to transmit your alarm signal. The availability of |
| does not capture data for emergency | | | | such services is limited and depends where you |
| response.When your alarm goes off due to an | | | | live.Alarm companies of all sizes are working with |
| attempted break in, is no time to find out that | | | | manufactures and providers of VoIP services to |
| the monitoring response that you have been | | | | find ways to properly integrate Alarm Systems |
| faithfully paying for is not available for you. The | | | | with these phone communications industry |
| Alarm Company has no way of knowing that you | | | | changes. I would expect many changes in the |
| switched services. You should be sending a test | | | | near future as this does not seem to be a |
| signal monthly, to assure yourself that the | | | | passing fad. Be on the lookout for information on |
| system is working properly, no matter who you | | | | these changes, so that you can always make an |
| are connected through. Be advised that if you are | | | | informed decision.Matthew Francis 22 year |
| using VoIP and the signal goes through, it does | | | | veteran of the alarm industry |
| not mean that it will always be as clear. The | | | | Installer, salesman, licensed alarm company |
| volume of traffic on the Internet can and will | | | | owner, monitoring station designer, promotions |
| vary the quality of the digitized signal it sends.If | | | | and marketing director with one of the worlds |
| you find yourself intrigued by this revolution in | | | | largest security dealers. He now works as a |
| phone services and are dependent on alarm | | | | consumer advocate, teaching consumers how to |
| system dispatch as part of your security plan, | | | | buy or get systems for free (without being |
| you should consider the pitfalls and options.* If | | | | taken). He is committed to being unbiased. |
| power fails to the premise it is likely that your | | | | |