COPS Monitoring Bulletin Newsletter #26

Did you miss something? Electronic versions of past issues of the Bulletin are available online at: copsmonitoring.com/bulletin 2014 DEALER MEETING HIGHLIGHTS As a convenience ipDatatel services will be included on your COPS invoice beginning in August. Since ipDatatel bills for prior months and COPS invoices a month in advance, the first time you see ipDatadel charges on your COPS invoice, it will be for two months. ipDatatel offers innovative cellular and internet- ready devices which replace conventional phone lines to provide signal transmission via cellular or IP to the central station. ipDatatel also offers interactive services through smartphones, tablets, and computers. For more information visit ipdatatel.com Data tel iPhone users: • Go to: m.copsmpower.com on your phone • Tap the "share" icon on the menu bar at the bottom of your screen • Select "Add to Home Screen" • COPS Monitoring logo should appear on your home screen with the words "MPower Me" Android users: • Go to: m.copsmpower.com on your phone • Tap the "Menu" button in your browser • Select "Add toHomescreen" • COPS Monitoring logo should appear on your home screen with the words "MPower Me" to your mobile devices Adding MobileEdition We were pleased with the turnout for our Spring dealer meetings at each of our six central stations and appreciated the opportunity to meet with our customers in person. Dealers who attended had the opportunity to interact with executive management and learn more about several topics such as COPS' network infrastructure and redundancy. Attendees also got a first-hand preview of the new Grouped Access on our subscriber access, MPower Me , along with its new feature, which gives customers the ability to put up to five accounts on test at the same time - a real time saver for office complexes and other multi-building locations. Dealers also learned about equipment discounts available exclusively to COPS Monitoring dealers through the SS&Si Dealer network. Jake from SS&Si also announced a new video system finance program that allows customers to pay a smaller monthly fee for their camera system rather than having to pay a hefty up-front fee for the equipment. Dealers, on the other hand, are paid up front for the full amount of the system. Other subjects included our "Alarm Response Optimization," our free program, which essentially cuts down the number of unwanted repetitive contacts with your customers, false alarms, and false dispatches. Our Activity Analysis Team has performed this free service to hundreds of COPS dealers, reducing attrition and improving customer satisfaction. Dealers also had the opportunity to give their feedback on new services COPS is considering. We understand your time is valuable, which is why we try to pack the COPS dealer meetings with as much relevant information as we can. Our Spring dealer meetings welcomed guest speaker Henry Laik, Director of Strategic Accounts at Telguard who provided in-depth information about the differences of 2G and 3G/4G along with the different services Telguard provides to help prepare for the long anticipated 2G sunset, which is slated for the end of 2016. One of the focus points was as technology gets better, older technology gets dropped, so it's imperative to educate your customers on the importance of having their 2G units replaced with 3G/4G units before their systems fail to communicate. Several COPS dealers are already reporting 2G outages in some areas, so start upgrading your 2G units today. Several 3G/4G, radio, and IP (internet) options that COPS supports are listed on the next page. For more information on dealer meetings, contact Dealer Support at 1-800-367-2677 For more information on 2G Sunset, visit: 2Gsunset.com AlarmNet has been providing services through its own AlarmNet-A networks for over 25 years. Beginning August 1, 2015, these specific networks will be shutting down one at a time, in an orderly fashion to allow for adequate time for alarm companies to make necessary arrangements. The entire shutdown process should be completed by the end of 2016. If you are using AlarmNet A, you can replace the radios using other cellular, radio, or IP products supported by COPS. DEVELOP A PLAN FOR UPDATING TECHNOLOGY SUNSET OF ALARMNET A Just like computers, operating systems, cell phones, and other technologies that quickly change with the times, the alarm industry is hit from all sides and security integrators need to keep ahead of the curve. No doubt many of you can recall when 7-digit dialing was the normal, which then gave way to 10-digit dialing due to “overlay plans,” additional area codes, and the migration to toll-free dialing. There was also the AMPS radio sunset in February 2008, which freed cellular carriers from their obligations to continue operating analog wireless networks. Lately, the biggest impact facing the security industry is the looming discontinuation of POTS & 2G, which has alarm dealers migrating to 3G/4G, radio, or IP communication. Rather than being reactive the next time technology changes, we recommend taking a proactive step to develop a plan that begins with the next upgrade or initial install where you set the expectation that their current system will have to be updated sometime in the future as technology progresses. Without a plan that sets good customer expectations up front, you may be left unprepared to handle non-functioning equipment and have difficulty convincing your customers to upgrade when the existing technology inevitably becomes outdated. COPS supports a wide variety of cellular, radio, and IP solutions listed on the next page.