Security Sales & Integration February 2022 - 56

Life Safety
Post-Pandemic PERS
The most
important
element of any
mobile or cellular
device today is
the assurance
that it is certified
as a 4G device.
around the Earth; A-GPS devices use information
from network stations based on cellular
technology employed in the mobile terminals.
Because GPS devices communicate with
satellites, they perform best under clear sky
conditions and when satellites are reachable
without any interference. As A-GPS devices
are connecting with cellular network stations,
they communicate even in cloudy atmosphere
and terrible satellite conditions, but experience
problems when the cell network is unreachable.
In those instances, A-GPS devices fall back
to the GPS feature for a more accurate location,
if available. When these two technologies
are properly used in conjunction, it allows
your central monitoring center to know where
the subscriber is when they press their emergency
button or when their fall detector is activated.
Systems that use A-GPS in tandem with
GPS bring up a location faster to an operator
rather than waiting for the satellites to analyze
and deliver.
One segment that has
experienced great growth,
acceleration and maturity is
remote patient monitoring
(RPM) or telehealth.
Pairing WiFi With GPS
Layering in WiFi location-based services along
with GPS typically affords the most accurate
and fastest location pinpointing. The addition
of WiFi addressed the persistent issue of gaining
a location of individuals who are indoors or
in a large building.
By utilizing the WiFi access points database,
monitoring centers can now assess the location
of an individual in a building. Did you ever
" check in " with Facebook while at an airport
and the first choice is the actual gate where
you are located? Well, this is how Facebook
and others accomplish this. You don't need to
be logged into the WiFi; it uses their location
without the need of authentication.
The most important element of any mobile
or cellular device today is the assurance that
it is certified as a 4G device. 3G sunsetting is
well underway, with coverage thinning out on
a regular basis. Sunsetting of 3G in its entirety
is slated within the next year and replacing
the non-LTE 4G units is essential. The good
news regarding migration to the 4G network
is hidden within the acronym LTE, Long Term
Evolution. The 4G network is anticipated to
have a lifespan that extends to mid-2030s and
possibly beyond.
With everyone concentrating on minimizing
attrition (the holy grail when operating
a subscriber-based, recurring monthly revenue
business), an essential element is to make
sure you are deploying the proper products.
Providing current products that won't require
replacement or perform erratically in the near
future is a moral and best practice obligation
that should mitigate attrition and additional
liability. It's borderline negligent to deploy any
cellular products that are not 4G or the current
cellular evolution at this point; systems are
widely available and it is the responsible choice
when selecting technology for your clients.
Communicate with your manufacturing and
platform providers. Many solid and creditable
providers currently supply the industry. Worldclass
organizations like the aforementioned
Anelto, Climax and MobileHelp are already
integrated and monitored by third-party monitoring
companies such as those referenced in
this article and have proven track records in
these markets.
The PERS, mPERS and RPM markets are
growing rapidly. The current climate and maturity
are drivers in consideration of the value
of this opportunity into an existing technology
company. As a dealer or integrator, this makes
it a great time to investigate and better understand
if this is a channel where you want to take
your company to achieve market expansion and
new revenue opportunities. SSI
PETER GIACALONE is President of
Giacalone Associates, an independent
security consulting firm serving central
stations, manufacturers and dealers.
56
Security Sales & Integration FEBRUARY 2022
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Security Sales & Integration February 2022

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