By Ashley Willis
OJAI, Calif. — NextAlarm Monitoring Services, a full service alarm monitoring company based here, has broadened its value-added reseller program to allow dealers to expand their brand recognition.
An addition to the existing VoIPAlarm reseller program, the new Premier dealer program gives resellers access to the entire suite of VoIPAlarm services — with a twist, NextAlarm Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing Tom Reed tells SSI.
"The traditional dealer program is generically branded. The Premier dealer program is meant for resellers who value their brand identity," Reed says. "So, the program allows a dealer's logo to appear on our iPhone and Android apps and our Web portal. To the customer, it will look like the dealer has their own apps and Web site."
NextAlarm started VoIPAlarm to help alarm dealers and central stations solve problems alarm systems experience when connected to voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone services. Realizing that most alarm systems could not effectively communicate over VoIP, the company developed the alarm broadband adapter. The adapter works to re-enable alarm communications in installations that do not connect to landlines, according to Reed.
"With our patented product, any contact ID alarm panel can convert to work over IP, be it from DSC, Elk, GE, Honeywell or NAPCO," he says. "It allows the alarms to send signals to whatever central station dealers are using. As a result, any system connected to the adapter allows users to remotely arm and disarm those systems using the smartphone apps or Web portal. At the end of the day, we have what we think is the easiest, most cost effective way to convert customers that are dropping POTS [plain old telephone service] lines. We want to convert them to IP and really help them take advantage of all the features that having an IP monitored alarm provides."
The reseller program also allows dealers to offer the NextView IP video service to clients. When an alarm panel reports an event through the VoIPAlarm platform, the service provides the customer and authorized dealer with video both prior to and after the alarm event. Users can view and manage live video and recorded events from any Web browser or NextView iPhone and Android apps.
With a goal of helping mom-and-pop companies build their businesses, it's not too difficult for interested parties to join the program, Reed says. Potential dealers must attend a 45-minute Webinar, hosted every Tuesday and Thursday, at VoIPAlarm.com.
"Our traditional alarm dealer probably has a one- or two-man management team with maybe one installer and a salesperson," he explains. "We know their time is incredibly valuable, so we give them a lot of information, but we give it to them quickly."
At the conclusion of the session, attendees can order products from the site. Once attendees sign up their first customer for the service, they become VoIPAlarm dealers. It is free to join the traditional VoIPAlarm program. There is a one-time $199 fee to join the Premier dealer program.
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Ashley Willis is associate editor for SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION. She can be reached at (310) 533-2419.