Wireless Home Security–Changing The Industry
samacmcbride | Jul 28, 2011 | Comments 4
Technology changes every industry. Sometimes it’s disruptive and sometimes it expands an industry by making the goods or services more accessible, easier to use, more fun and more reliable. In the home security industry, the technological shift from phone line based monitoring to cellular monitoring is lowering the barrier to purchase, improving interactive services and delivering more reliable service–and it’s a lot more fun.
Phone line is an adequate form of alarm monitoring communication:
• Remote Locations: if your cell phone doesn’t get any signal, your alarm panel may not either. Homes or businesses that are far off the beaten path, high up in the mountains or way out in the country may be candidates for a phone line based security system
• Already Installed: if you live in or move into a home that already had everything prewired and it’s working properly you will have basic functionality–adding a wireless back up until to make sure your system can’t be disabled is highly recommended
Problems with phone line monitoring:
• Vulnerability: A phone line system is disabled when the phone line is cut and your system becomes totally useless.
• Cost: Paying for a phone line each month and having to wire an entire home is expensive and time consuming.
• Boring: Frankly, it’s just boring. You can’t incorporate home automation, you can’t download a cool app from iTunes and you can’t check your systems status remotely!
Cellular is the best form of alarm monitoring communication:
• Cost Savings: Getting rid of your phone line and not having to run a phone line to the panel can save you enough to pay for the difference in cellular monitoring.
• Improved Pricing: Cellular service was once much more expensive than phone line communication. Some companies still charge between $40 and $70 for basic cellular service, but there are also companies that offer basic cellular monitoring for less than $20 and interactive services for les than $30. No longer is cost a barrier to reliable service.
• Reliability: With a cellular system, a criminal can’t disable the system because there is nothing for the burglar to cut.
• It is really easy to use: Some companies now offer systems that are configured on the back end and when it arrives in the mail, it is ready to install in only about 20 minutes! This is a great video explaining how anyone can install a system on his or her own and save $100s.
• It’s more fun: Cellular communication opens up all kinds of doors for interactive services. Panels like the Simon XT allow the customer to control their lights, door locks, thermostats and allows the customer to check on their system from their phone or computer
The bottom line is that phone line systems aren’t as reliable, they can cost more money than cellular systems and the technology is far inferior to cellular systems. If you’re thinking about a new security system, make it cellular.
Sam McBride is focused on business development and operational strategy for Bolster LLC and it’s subsidiaries, which include Able Security and SafeMart (SafeMart.com).
Filed Under: Home Security
Great article, I couldn’t agree more. What do you think about internet monitoring. That seems to be gaining popularity.
There’s definitely opportunity with Internet monitoring especially since everyone seems to have an Internet connection (like wireless this can eliminate the need for a phoneline). Wireless systems may still be superior because they don’t need any connection (phoneline or Internet) but there are pricing advantages to systems that don’t require a cellular communicator.
There’s definitely opportunity with Internet monitoring especially since everyone seems to have an Internet connection (like wireless this can eliminate the need for a phone line). Wireless systems may still be superior because they don’t need any connection (phoneline or Internet) but there are pricing advantages to systems that don’t require a cellular communicator.
Internet monitoring is interesting. It will offer some advantages like updates and it also reduces the need for a phone line. But, it still has the same issue as the phone line in that cutting the cord can disable the system.