Re: Long distance carriers going with VoIP

["R.H.Campbell" <rh.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mike, RLB has a point ! I don't know about you, but I lose business now
because I am unwilling to hook them up to VoIP services.  Something has to
give, and soon, or all of us that depend upon conventional POTS lines for
monitoring services will face big problems ! The issue is not that there
aren't IP options out there, with more to come, it's simply that the average
residential customer who has gotten rid of his telco line to save $20 a
month, is not very receptive to spending much more than that (either
upfront, or ongoing, or more likely both) to buy into one of the very few IP
alternatives that exist now. And it isn't a matter of turning on your sales
charm and selling them on it either, as has been suggested to me on
occasion. For business it's not a problem, because the cost of a POTS line
is peanuts !!

I sure wish I had a handle on where it's all going. It's one of the few
things in this industry that truly worries me. All you have to do is look at
the 2006/2007 VoIP forcasts to know we're all going to be affected "big
time".

RHC


"mikey" <loismustdie@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:T56dnSx0behajQ_eRVn-pA@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> So does this mean you're finally going to get rid of your rotary phone and
> upgrade to touchtone?
>
> Uh, gee, Bob, er, thanks for the update... I'm really relieved that you're
> not affected, just us monkeys.
> And you're going to profit too! Isn't that special. Go girl!
>
> <robertlbass@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1133638190.023973.86910@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Most of the early discussions of VoIP issues in this newsgroup have
>> centered on customers opting for VoIP systems, such as Vonage, without
>> telling the alarm dealer or central monitoring station of their
>> decision.  For most central stations and with most current technology
>> alarm control panels this can interfere with alarm signal transmission.
>>  I've stated before times that I believe VoIP (or something like it) is
>> going to replace POTS lines within a few years.  Now it seems there's
>> an even faster current flowing toward VoIP and those who don't want to
>> lose their shirts in this trade had better find a way to deal with it..
>>
>> In the current issue of CEPro there's an article titled, "Telcos'
>> Switch to VoIP Wreaks Alarm Havoc."  Local phone companies are
>> beginning to switch their long distance services over to VoIP ...
>> without telling customers or alarm companies about it in advance.
>> According to the Dale Eller, NBFAA standards director, "it is our
>> understanding that *ALL* long distance providers will be employing
>> VoIP." (emphasis mine)
>>
>> This could spell big trouble (and hefty cost increases) for big,
>> national monitoring companies as they will have to provide alternate
>> communications paths / hardware or lose their customer base.  Those of
>> us who don't care for the Monitonix' and P1's of this industry can
>> smile as they face astronomical costs just to maintain their present
>> RMR.  However, as CLECs begin employing the technology at the local
>> level, even the local dealer using a local central station will face
>> the same hurdles.
>>
>> One remedy would be to have new panels designed to be compatible with
>> VoIP and some manufacturers are already working on that.  That will
>> make it possible to handle new installations without VoIP-phobia.  It
>> could also provide a major boost to sales as existing customers will
>> need to upgrade to new hardware.
>>
>> Either way, those of us who sell online won't be hurt.  If alarm
>> companies start telling millions of customers all over the country that
>> they have to replace their systems or lose monitoring, a fair
>> percentage of those customers will opt to buy online.  Also, since most
>> online dealers don't rely on monitoring revenue as their major profit
>> centers, the changes will have almost zero negative affect.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Robert L Bass
>> www.BassBurglarAlarms.com
>>
>
>


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