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Goodbye PSTN, hello IP

Why there is a new mainstream for alarm communication.

IP is by far the fastest and most reliable channel of communication used in alarm systems today. That is a key reason increasing numbers of security service providers are migrating from PSTN to IP-based technology to transmit alarm events. However, speed and reliability are not the only advantages of IP communication. Rather, service providers are turning to IP as a way to expand their services to be more advanced and appropriate to the changing needs of today’s consumers. The desire to improve supervision frequency and offer more flexibility and control to customers is the main driver of this trend.

It has become trendy to attribute an ever-wider variety of changing consumer habits to the growing prevalence of smartphones. Everyone wants to be in with the iPhone generation. In the case of home security, the connection is very real. Consumers are increasingly accustomed to constant and instant access with home, family members and friends, and to businesses and service providers.

Likewise, more than ever before, consumers are demanding to know and be in command of what is going on in their homes, especially, when they are away. Services such as visual verification, remote control and viewing the house from afar via cameras have become increasingly popular. To provide these services, central monitoring stations must have a designated IP receiver.

What to consider when choosing an IP receiver

The selection of an IP receiver is not as straightforward as it is for a PSTN receiver. Cost effectiveness and business growth opportunities are two factors that must be taken into account during the decision making process. To determine the most suitable IP receiver for its particular needs, the monitoring station needs to compare each receiver’s protocol support, the number of accounts it can handle and advanced services capabilities.

The support protocol – The vast majority of IP receivers use a proprietary protocol developed by the device’s manufacturer. This means the receiver is incompatible with equipment from any other manufacturer. Receivers that use the popular, open standard SIA over IP protocol or support several IP protocols are considered a better choice because they are compatible with a wider variety of equipment.

* Cost-per-account – The maximum number of accounts per receiver divided by the receiver’s cost gives you the cost per account. This number is usually doubled as most monitoring stations use a redundant configuration of receivers. Generally speaking, the larger the number of accounts, the lower the cost per account.

* Value-added capabilities – The ability to support advanced services can significantly affect a monitoring station’s competitiveness and business growth over the long term. Value-added capabilities such as event notification, video alarm verification, home control and additional web services provided to the home owners can all be used to generate revenue. IP receivers vary in their ability to support advanced services.

The receiver that has it all

Visonic’s PowerManage is an all-in-one IP receiver and management platform that enables security service providers to get the maximum benefit from using IP technology for monitored premises. It handles up to 20 000 accounts using SIA/IP, and is designed to be used for both the day-to-day technical maintenance of alarm systems and also as a receiver for events from IP-enabled (GPRS or ADSL) alarm systems. PowerManage integrates with many automation software systems, including Mastermind, SBN, Bold, Bold Manitou and IBS. With PowerManage, service providers improve both customer service and revenues.

The most cost-effective way to deal with high false alarm rates is real-time visual alarm verification. When PowerManage is combined with Visonic’s RealAlarm solution, service providers gain a complete answer for effective alarm verification of burglary, panic and fire events. Wireless PIR detectors with built-in video cameras capture live images during an event. These images are sent via GPRS to the monitoring station where the staff can make informed decisions before alerting authorities. This eliminates site checks, saving time and cost; and protects field staff from being ill-prepared for a potentially dangerous situation.

PowerManage includes a built-in Web interface application to enable full management of connected systems, including remote configurations and maintenance of the alarm systems. Each unit can be configured separately, giving service administrators unlimited control. This includes blocking the service to non-paying customers, resetting customer passwords, and IP camera surveillance. It also supports grouping of control panels.

Constant contact with customers

In the era of smartphones, customers expect to be more connected with service providers and to receive richer and more frequent updates. PowerManage has a built-in message dispatcher application that enables service providers to forward event notifications and recorded images to customer e-mails and mobile phones.

Moving from a PSTN to IP-based receiver keeps central monitoring stations up to date with the latest technology and also with consumer demands. Consumers expect complete control over what is happening in their homes whether they are physically present or not.

With a high-capacity IP receiver that uses open protocols and supports value-added services, monitoring stations can fully answer customer requirements, reduce maintenance, installation and operating costs, and expand their service offering. Visonic’s PowerManage fits the bill, bringing security service providers the technologies they need to be competitive and profitable, now and in the future.

Eran Shoham

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