VoIP + Alarm System = Problems

Do you have a VoIP (voice over internet protocol) phone service such as Vonage, Clear, Magic Jack, etc?

If so, you're one of 120 million people worldwide who have switched over, and it's estimated another 45 million will make the same switch in the next four years.

VoIP is no longer an emerging technology. It has emerged.

The sun is setting on POTS (plain old telephone system). The major telephone companies have also decided to make the switch to digital. In five to seven years, analog telephone signals transmitting through telephone lines will become a thing of the past. Everyone's phone will be digital.

Next question: Do you have an alarm system?

If so, there is a problem. Alarm signals transmitting through VoIP services is like mixing water and oil. 

The problem is VoIP's inability to accurately reproduce the sounds or pulses the alarm panel transmits. Another problem exists with the fluctuations caused by the compression technology VoIP uses. This results in hit-and-miss alarm signal transmission — or works today, doesn't tomorrow.

The only sure solution is to not use VoIP for alarm transmission.

For alarm companies, the conventional fix is the installation of a GSM (Global System for Mobile) cellular transmitter.

Unfortunately, that fix carries with it a $300-400 add-on cost to your alarm system, an additional fee to your monthly monitoring bill and an extention to the term of your monitoring contract.

All this tends to offset the cost savings you thought your were getting when you changed to VoIP, doesn't it?

A superior solution for less than half the cost.

Aegis Technology now has its own BBAC - Broadband Alarm Communicator. Its price is only $129. It's a plug-and-play device designed for alarm transmission. Since the BBAC transmits its signals independently through the internet, the problem with VoIP becomes null and void.

Aegis Technology offers two, easy to swallow, service options with its BBAC.

1.  You can use it with your current monitoring service. The BBAC service fee is only $55 a year or $30 for six months.

2.  Or you can opt for monitoring service from Aegis Technology for only $19.95 a month, with no contract. Thee BBAC service fee is included in the price.

The BBAC also offers some advance features such as latch key text messaging to know when your kids come home from school, in addition to e-mail/text alerts when an alarm occurs.  For more details and other features and benefits, go to: http://www.aegis-technology.com/VoIP---Alarms.html.

Special note to Patch readers

Since you've read this far, I'm going to assume you have an interest in BBAC. As such, here is a special offer: If you opt to change your monitoring service to Aegis Technology, we'll reduce the price of the BBAC $20, install it for free ($65 service call fee) and give you two free months of monitoring, a $39.90 value. Total savings = $124.90.  To take advantage of this offer, contact scott@aegis-technology.com. Do not order it through the web page.