NextAlarm announces a complete overhaul of its VoIPAlarm platform. VoIPAlarm, in operation for several years, is a product that upgrades most alarm systems to send signals over broadband Internet, even if they were built to use only standard telephone lines. The enhancements to the platform are designed to enhance usability and streamline operation, and will speed up installations for alarm dealers using the product.

VoIPAlarm was designed as a solution for alarm dealers and monitoring services losing customers due to the advent of Voice-over-Internet Protocol, or VoIP, telephone services. The majority of alarm systems installed in homes and businesses today are unable to communicate over VoIP, as they were designed with the specific tolerances and DTMF ranges of standard PSTN phone lines. VoIPAlarm allows these alarm systems to communicate over broadband with the addition of a single, inexpensive adapter, called the alarm broadband adapter. The adapter also works to re-enable alarm signaling in locations that have disconnected their phone lines entirely, such as homes whose residents have switched to using cell phones.

The alarm broadband adapter is compatible with any alarm system that supports the Contact ID reporting format, which includes most alarm systems built in the last 20 years, and functions over any broadband Internet connection. When the alarm system attempts to send signals, the adapter captures those signals and transmits them over IP to the VoIPAlarm servers. VoIPAlarm then decodes the signals and retransmits them over its own dedicated phone lines to the central station of the dealer's choice. Signals arrive at the destination receiver in an identical manner to signals sent via traditional means, with no extra equipment required at the station. In addition to carrying a much lower cost than replacing an entire alarm system with one built for IP communications, VoIPAlarm adds a number of features the dealer can offer to their customer. These include an online signal log, online test mode, selective suppression of signals like tests and arm/disarm reports, and email notifications of alarms.

VoIPAlarm also adds line security to any system, as the adapter is continuously tracked by the VoIPAlarm servers. If an adapter loses its connection, an alarm signal can optionally be generated by VoIPAlarm, triggering a response from the customer's monitoring service. This feature is not available with standard telephone lines, where the central station has no way to tell if a system's phone line has been cut or otherwise disrupted.

The revamped interface for installing VoIPAlarm is based on a "plug & play" philosophy. The adapter can simply be connected to the alarm system's phone line, to power, and to the Internet. It will immediately begin to send the alarm system's signals to its central station, using the settings already programmed into the system. No setup or configuration whatsoever is needed, and the alarm system's operation will continue exactly as over a standard phone line. A standard telephone can be used to test that the signals were processed correctly, using a simple voice menu system. Within five days, the alarm dealer must log into the VoIPAlarm website to arrange payment for the VoIPAlarm service. This can be done from the dealer's office or anywhere else, and does not need to be done during the actual installation. These enhancements are estimated to cut the installation time to below 30 minutes, and to require no special equipment or training on the part of the alarm installer.

VoIPAlarm and the alarm broadband adapter are available now from several distributors.