IMPORTANT INFORMATION
for Customers Considering Changes to Their Home's Telephone Service Columbus Security
provides more. Voice Over Internet Protocol
Important Questions Concerning Home Alarm System and VOIP/Digital Phone Service

What is VoIP/Digital Phone Service?
The on-going development of new technologies offers today’s consumers a wide range of new communications services, which are generically called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or Digital Phone services. These services are provided by cable companies, telecommunications companies and, in some cases, independent providers that rely on the Internet connections that are already present in the home. While all these technologies provide a form of telephone service, there may be differences in their range of features and reliability*.

Will switching to VoIP/Digital Phone service affect my Columbus Security security system?
It depends. For a VoIP/Digital Phone service user who elects to also keep a traditional telephone line, there should be no effect on the operation of their security system if they keep their alarm panel connected to their traditional telephone line. However, in many cases, subscribers considering these new technologies plan to disconnect the traditional telephone line that has been used to provide telephone service to the home. Before disconnecting their traditional phone line, homeowners should understand that some VoIP/Digital Phone services may expose them to additional risk of potential signal failure, such as the risk of losing operation of the security system during a power outage (the battery back-up for Columbus Security’s alarm panel does not power non-traditional telephone service). In some cases, some types of VoIP/Digital Phone service may not properly transmit signals from the home security system.
Any Columbus Security customer considering a change in telephone service should contact Columbus Security to learn about the potential alarm signal transmission issues that can be associated with some VoIP/Digital Phone services.

How does my Columbus Security security system work?
Most alarm system control panels, including Columbus Security’s, communicate with customer monitoring centers through a telephone line. During an alarm event, the control panel seizes control of this telephone line ("line seizure"), which should allow an alarm signal to be sent even if a telephone receiver in the home is off the hook. Regardless of your telephone service provider, your security system must be wired properly for line seizure to occur. With some VoIP/Digital Phone services, Columbus Security’s ability to receive an alarm signal may be impacted if there is a power outage at your home or if the VoIP/Digital Phone service is temporarily unavailable due to scheduled or unscheduled network outages. These risks vary widely among the VoIP/Digital Phone technologies used today.

What is Columbus Security’s policy on VoIP/Digital Phone Services?
Columbus Security’s policy on VoIP/Digital Phone services is based on providing quality alarm monitoring services to our customers. Columbus Security requires at least one of the following methods be used as the primary method of transmitting alarm signals to Columbus Security’s Customer Monitoring Centers: (1) a Traditional Telephone Service, (2) a Cellular Communications Service such as DigiCell® AnyNET.** Other methods of communication, beyond those listed here, may not be used as the primary means of transmitting alarm signals to Columbus Security’s monitoring centers. In addition, regardless of the type of telephone service that a customer has, Columbus Security always recommends that customers use an additional back-up method of communication to connect their alarm system to Columbus Security’s monitoring center, such as Columbus Securitys' DigiCell® AnyNET.< br> Any Columbus Security customer considering a change in telephone service should contact Columbus Security to learn about the potential alarm signal transmission issues that can be associated with some VoIP/Digital Phone services.

What is DigiCell® AnyNET?
DigiCell® AnyNET is a cellular product offered by Columbus Security that enables your home security system to communicate with the monitoring center. It has become a popular option in home security systems because it helps provide protection if your home telephone service is disrupted due to fallen lines, storms or construction.***

* Aspects of these considerations may vary dependent upon your VoIP or other Non-Traditional Telephone Service provider and change with new developments in technology. You should always check with your VoIP or other Non-Traditional Telephone Service provider to confirm any advantages and limitations of their service.
** Transmission of fire alarm signals by means other than a traditional telephone line may not be in compliance with some local fire codes.
*** Cellular connection relies on operating cellular device and network services.