Monitoring of customer accounts by third-party central stations can provide advantages to security dealers whose account bases may be too small to establish their own central stations or who wish to specialize in other areas of the business.

Using a third-party central station can delegate employee training for the computerized services and systems used in modern central stations to specialists. Their economies of scale by serving many dealers can reduce dealers’ monitoring costs to a level lower than what the dealers could provide with their own central stations. These savings can be passed on to the customer and bring more business to security dealers.

With today’s nationwide communications networks, accounts no longer have to be monitored in the area or even the state in which they are located, as long as the central stations meet all applicable state regulations for monitoring accounts and qualifying their employees.

They can respond instantaneously to alarms and dispatch authorities within seconds. Audio and video verification also is becoming available to prevent false dispatches.

Many third-party central stations can be as local as the dealers they serve and provide additional advantages. They can know an area intimately and provide directions not only from mapping software but from experience. They also can offer services customized to particular dealers regardless of the size of the dealer’s business and a responsiveness that dealers and their customers appreciate.

Verified Response: Trend or Blip?

Verified response policies and ordinances continue to gain attention across the United States. In March, SDM magazine began a series of regular updates on this issue. In a collaboration with the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), which works with law enforcement, industry and public officials to reduce alarm dispatches, SDM provides key phrases, definitions and explanations of verified response, along with alternatives to verified response.

In future issues, as a part of the Verified Response series, SDM and SIAC will provide an updated table of verified response locations. Of the roughly 18,000 law enforcement jurisdictions nationwide, 24 have adopted some form of verified response to alarm signals.

According to Stan Martin, executive director of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), because the majority of non-response policies have been implemented in the last few years, it is too early to tell what the full effect of such a policy might be. SIAC works with law enforcement, industry and public officials to reduce alarm dispatches.

According to Martin, to understand the process of a policy or ordinance, alarm companies need to understand the issues driving it. Alarm companies can ask themselves:

Has the local security industry formed a working relationship with local police chiefs, alarm unit managers, and city or county councils? What are the current ordinances and are they effective? Is the local alarm industry organized and does it have a strong local or state association?

For more information, visit SDM’s Web site.

Editor’s Note: The information contained in SDM’s 2006 Guide to Monitoring Services was gathered through a survey of monitoring services conducted in January 2006. If readers are aware of other wholesale monitoring firms that should be listed here, please contact the senior editor, Russ Gager, at GagerR@SDMmag.com, tele. (630) 694-4395. This guide also is available online at www.sdmmag.com

Acadian On Watch

Lafayette, LA • (888) 558-9911 • www.acadianonwatch.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, GPS
Listings/Certifications: UL Fire/Security; CSAA 5 Diamond Rating
Also: Internet/PDA dealer access, account activity alerts via e-mail/text messaging, dealer answering services, AES radio leasing program, professional medical monitoring.

Affiliated Central Inc.

Brooklyn, NY • (800) 296-9000 • www.affiliatedcentral.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: UL, IQ Certified, FDNY Approved
Also: Affiliated offers wireless web account management, secondary call verification for the reduction of false alarms, 7 district Internet monitoring technologies, dealer sales & marketing literature, and dedicated toll-free telephone lines for account programming.

Alarm Center, Inc.

Lacey, WA • (800) 752-2490 • www.acimonitoring.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: UUFX (Protective Signaling Services), Factory Mutual
Also: Dealer services since 1972. Receive ALL digital formats including DMP. AES radio, Cellular (Uplink & AlarmNet-C), Internet Monitoring (NetCom, AlarmNet-I, and iCom), Derived Channel, hearing impaired capabilities. Call Center professional telephone answering service, ReachONE ISP-e-mail-web hosting services. Account access for dealers via secure, encrypted web connection as well as web phone.

Alarm Central

Quincy, MA • (800) 982-2010 • www.alarmcentral.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: UL
Also: Your national security connection since 1978. We offer premium monitoring for all formats, including two-way voice at no extra charge. We also offer a variety of dealer services such as dealer access, daily activity reports, end-user marketing material, direct billing, and many more.

Alarm Central Station, Inc.

Beaverton, OR • (800) 452-3555 • www.alceste.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: UUFX (Signal & Fire Alarm Equipment and Services) (Protective Signaling Services) Central Station
Also: Dealer & subscriber account access over Internet, video verification using OZVISION, marketing brochures for dealers.

Alarm Monitoring Cooperative, Inc.

Lilburn, GA • (770) 564-4800
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet
Listings/Certifications: UL
Also: Free remote access to our non-public website, allows for running activity & open/close reports, etc. Uses MASweb’s remote editing package giving dealers complete access to edit accounts real-time. Dealer message taking & delivery. Dedicated phone lines for dealer call answering available.

Alarm Partner

Seattle, WA • (888) 249-2498 • www.alarmpartner.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, off-site access control administration, GPS
Listings/Certifications: UL, Factory Mutual
Also: Offering dealer purchase programs with a 50/50 revenue split. Also offering wholesale dealer monitoring programs for $1.00 per month, including remote dealer access and subscriber access using www.gotomyalarm.com.

AlarmWatch

Merced, CA • (800) 927-6623 • www.alarmwatch.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, cellular, Internet, listen-in/two-way voice, GPS
Listings/Certifications: UL
Also: Remote access including Internet, Palm Pilot, and account activity alerts including fax, pager, e-mail. Customer assistance program helps dealers’ clients solve basic alarm system problems.

All American Monitoring

Sarasota, FL • (800) 318-9486 • www.allamericanmonitoring.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: UUPX - Signal and Fire Alarm Equipment and Services - Protective Signaling Services - Central Station
Also: Dealer Access Module allows you complete control of your accounts via a secured Internet connection 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Virtual Operator allows you to put accounts on test at the jobsite. Dealer Notification via e-mail every 24 hours of your alarm activity. All the above listed services are offered to you at NO additional charge.

Amcest

Roselle, NJ • (800) 631-7370 • www.amcest.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: S2299 Protective Signaling
Also: Remote access: wireless & Internet. Account activity alerts via fax, e-mail, pager, telephone, wireless Internet browser. Answering service, billing, PERS turn-key program, Internet modem for VOIP Retrofit, funding, video verification service.

American Digital Monitoring

Seattle, WA • (800) 825-5911 • www.ulcenter.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, off-site access control administration, GPS
Listings/Certifications: UL, Factory Mutual
Also: Offering wholesale monitoring for $1.00 per month including remote dealer access and subscriber access using www.gotomyalarm.com

American Response Center

Euclid, OH • (800) 498-7565 • www.american-response.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, GPS
Listings/Certifications: UUFX (Signal and Fire Alarm Equipment Services, Protective Signaling Services) Central Station
Also: Remote Internet access to account information for Dealers and larger Subscribers. Alarm reports, masterfiles and data changes e-mailed/faxed upon completion or in daily summary. Free award-winning (SDM Securing America) generic Subscriber Booklets, for each subscriber. Generic support letters and brochures for subscriber communication problems (VoIP, DSL, etc.) provided to all ARC dealers.

American Two-Way

North Hollywood, CA • (800) 821-8200 • www.americantwoway.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, listen-in/two-way voice, GPS
Listings/Certifications: UL Burglar Alarms CVSU, Signal and Fire Alarms UUFX
Also: The inventor of two-way voice monitoring and largest patent holder in this field. As more and more cities require verification of an alarm before dispatching, our competitively priced audio verification monitoring solves this issue. In addition, with the medical alert (P.E.R.S.) market now exploding, our decades of experience in P.E.R.S. ensure your success in this field.

Anchor Alarm Center, Inc.

Suwanee, GA • (678) 482-7211; (877) 482-7211 • www.anchoralarmcenter.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, off-site access control administration
Listings/Certifications: UUFX
Also: Dealer remote client, Internet, Palm Pilot, VRT, account notification - fax, e-mail, paging, text messaging, enhanced call verification, dealer subscriber billing, subscriber & zone forms provided for dealer.

AssureRite Ltd.

Westerville, OH • (614) 436-7076 • www.assurerite.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, GPS
Listings/Certifications: UUFX
Also: Remote access via Internet, account activity alerts via daily e-mails, dealer services (call answering/billing).

Atlas Security Service Inc.

Springfield, MO • (866) 745-3137 • www.alarmcontrolcenter.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, cellular, Internet, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: Burglary, Fire
Also: We provide dealer access to accounts, activity alerts, dealer reports.

AvantGuard Monitoring Centers

Ogden, UT • (800) 950-3354 • www.avantguardmonitoring.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, cellular, Internet, Listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: UL 827
Also: With two UL-Listed Redundant Monitoring Centers located in Utah and Washington State, we excel in superior wholesale monitoring. We customize & brand our Web access for each individual dealer. We specialize in PERS monitoring. Other services include 3rd party billing, automatic mail reports, ECV, Internet monitoring.

AZ Security Control

Tempe, AZ • (480) 752-7110 • www.azsecurity.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, listen-in/two-way voice, off-site access control administration, GPS
Listings/Certifications: Factory Mutual (FM) Listing
Also: Complete dealer account administration through preprietary software. Too many features to list, see Web site.

Bays National Security

Tulsa, OK • (888) 229-1883 • www.since1883.org
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, off-site access control administration
Also: Answer calls in dealer’s name, daily activity reports, dealer funding - dealer retains ownership, monthly management support, account billing, end user technical support.

Care Monitoring Station

Louisville, KY • (502) 371-3333; (800) 928-2459 • www.caresecurity.com
Monitoring Services: Cellular, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: National Award-Winning, GE Security Pro Dealer
Also: Account activity alerts via e-mail or fax, enhanced call verification, dealer call answering, e-mail of open/close reports, certified operators and licensed where required.

Central Dispatch, Inc.

Rolla, MO • (800) 392-1310
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, cellular, Internet, remote video, GPS
Listings/Certifications: UUFX, Signal & Fire Alarm Equipment & Services Central Station
Also: Direct billing services, dealer access via Web, video patrols, daily history reports, tech support.

Central One

Boca Raton, FL • (800) 310-1837 x5143 • www.centralone.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: BP8552-1 CVSG (Burg/Mercantile), S4807-1 UUFX Fire Alarm Equipment & Services
Also: Remote Internet access real-time and web-enabled phones, receive reports by e-mail or Web access. Automatic caller ID on all signals in alarm history. Your own 800# 2-way voice and video alarm verification. Call answering service.

Central Station Services

Buffalo, NY • (800) 225-3753 • www.easternstatessentinel.com/central_station.htm
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, listen-in/two-way voice
Also: We accept most major formats. In addition to two-way audio & conventional monitoring, we offer Alarmnet, Uplink, AES long range radio, CCTV and alarm monitoring using Internet technology. We were one of the forerunners in the use of SIMS automation software. We offer free remote access to account information via Internet and PC Anywhere. We offer free optional daily-computerized reports of all alarm activations via fax or e-mail.

Centra-Larm Monitoring Inc.

Manchester, NH • (800) 639-4068 • www.centra-larm.com • www.execucom.org • www.startraes.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, GPS
Listings/Certifications: UL listed for Burglary and Fire, Government Secret Cleared Facility
Also: GPS Mobile Personal Security & Asset Tracking, remote access via Internet, WAP, enhanced call verification, 3rd party billing, answering service/back office, video verification.

CMS - Computerized Monitoring Services

Longwood, FL • (800) 422-2712 #2 • www.cmsn.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: UUFX-Central Station (Signal and Fire Alarm Equipment and Services Protective Signaling Services)
Also: Eaccess - Internet, account activity alerts - fax, e-mail, dealer services, dealer billing, technical support.

CMS Monitoring, Inc.

Medford, NY • (888) 289-2800 • www.cmsmonitoring.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular
Listings/Certifications: CVSU Residential
Also: We accept virtually all standard alarm transmission formats and long range back ups. We offer answering services, multiple forms of account activity notification as well as our free Internet based Dealer Access System and our Online Technical Library of installation manuals and programming sheets.

Code 3 Alarm Monitoring

Berkeley, CA • (510) 843-7400 • www.code3alarm.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, off-site access control administration
Listings/Certifications: UL
Also: Nationwide alarm monitoring $3.00/account.

Consolidated Monitoring Ltd.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • (877) 525-4109 • www.consolidated.ab.ca
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, cellular, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: ULC Level 2 fire/burglary certification
Also: CML takes pride in working on behalf of their installation dealers. We provide many customized services from reducing false alarms to specialized monitoring and billing services. CML offers remote access for report generating to account editing. E-mail notification, video surveillance, dealer-assisted advertisement, U.S. vs. Canadian exchange rates. All formats, two-way voice, cell backup with UpLink, Skyroute and AlarmNet-C. 30 years of monitoring experience. Trusted and dedicated to protecting lives and property.

Cooperative Response Center, Inc. (CRC)

Austin, MN • (507) 437-2137 • www.crc.coop
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, cellular, Internet, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: UL, IQ Certified, SIA Security Industry Association
Also: While still offering a personal level of medical monitoring found only in small central stations, CRC’s investment in technology delivers new-age functionality for medical alarm dealers. BOLD’s Manitou operating platform allows CRC to offer time- and cost-saving options, such as remote access to instantly view account information and activity. Cooperative Response Center, Inc. - focusing on the human side of technology.

COPS Monitoring

Williamstown, NJ • (800) 367-2677 • www.copsmonitoring.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, GPS
Listings/Certifications: Burglary and Fire (Protective Signaling), Factory Mutual, IQ Certified
Also: We offer: redundant facilities in N.J. and Arizona; COP-A-Link Secure Internet-based dealer and subscriber access; COP-A-Fax alarm notifications, various e-mail reports, TeleMax (Dealer Emergency Messaging Center), direct billing options, electronic invoicing, dedicated account managers, dealer support dept., two-way voice is specialty, false alarm reduction procedures, supervised O/C and tests, and much more.

Counterforce Central Alarm Services

Forest Hills, NY • (718) 575-3333 • www.counterforcecentral.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: Burglary Central Station, CPVX, Mercantile - CVSG and Fire - UUFX, New York City Fire Department Approved
Also: Toll free numbers, weekly reports, 24/7 new account activation.

Counterforce USA

Houston, TX • (866) 882-3872 • www.counterforceusa.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, off-site access control administration
Listings/Certifications: Burglary alarm system monitoring station, residential signal and fire alarm equipment and services, protective signaling services central station
Also: Dealer services, enhanced call verification, account activity report alerts, answering service, open & close reports (unsupervised or supervised), elevator entrapment, stairwell monitoring.

Crime Alert/Your Monitoring Center

San Jose, CA • (800) 829-8877 x1704 • www.crimealert.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: Fire Alarm Equipment & Protective Signaling Services (UUFX)
Also: We at Crime Alert/Your Monitoring Center can help you meet the demands of local police agencies by delivering mission-critical monitoring solutions such as Virtual Patrol video verification and ECV (Enhanced Call Verification). Crime Alert is U.L. listed and utilizes the latest GE MASterMind sofware in conjunction with powerful Dell OptiPlex enterprise systems technology, running dual-screen monitoring/video super station platforms.

Criticom International

Irvine, CA • (800) 810-7574 • Manasquan, NJ
www.criticominternational.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, GPS
Listings/Certifications: UL, Factory Mutual, IQ Certified
Also: Criticom is committed to providing personal high quality service to our customers. Criticom offers a wide range of services from MASweb, Masterweb, Fax & E-mail Capability, pager & text messaging, ECV, Billing, Answering Services, and Account Funding. Criticom is the leader in remote video & GPS solutions.

CSSS, Inc.

Anaheim, CA • (800) 995-1489 • www.central-station.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, off-site access control administration
Listings/Certifications: UUFX Central Station Monitoring, IQ Certified
Also: CSSS Inc. has been in business for more than 28 years, and provides the highest quality monitoring of any type of technology, with a team of professionals that is unmatched in the industry. We monitor all formats and specilize in active and reactive video monitoring and patrols. We have a triple-redundant computer system, electrical supply and our telephone lines are wired underground 625 ft. directly into the SBC central office.

Design Communications, Inc.

Little Rock, AR • (800) 223-7727 • www.designcommunications.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet
Listings/Certifications: CRZH National Industrial Security/CVSG Merchantile/UUFX Protective Signaling Central Station
Also: Answering service available, elevator call answering, dealer remote access, technical support to dealers, AlarmNet Central Station, DMP Internet Central Station.

Emergency 24

Chicago, IL • (800) 827-3624 • www.emergency24.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice, Off-site access control administration
Listings/Certifications: UL, IQ Certified
Also: With a distinguished ranking in the security industry, EMERgency 24 provides high-quality innovative services including our Dealer/Subscriber Online Access, Enhanced Call Verification, E-mail Signal Notification and Video Monitoring. These are just some of the services that dealers and subscribers alike use to boost their alarm monitoring effectiveness. To learn more about our services, call the Sales Department today at 800/827-3624.

ESC Central, Inc.

Birmingham, AL • (800) 268-3453 • www.esccentral.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: UL
Also: Detailed dealer/customer billing, answering service, mobile services; including Internet and wap access, account activity notification via fax, e-mail, and text messaging, ECV.

General Monitoring Services Inc.

Long Beach, CA • (800) 576-0650 • www.gmscentral.com
Monitoring Services: Digital transmission, long-range radio, cellular, Internet, remote video, listen-in/two-way voice
Listings/Certifications: UL, IQ Certified