Using Wireless Technology To Protect REO Properties; FrontPoint Security provides customers with interactive services to monitor properties and protect them from an invasion.(Managing REO)

Byline: Evan Nemeroff

Homeowners, retail stores, small commercial buildings, offices and banks all rely upon security systems to protect their REO properties.

Most "old school" alarms start and end at a wall-wired keypad. But since 2005, there has been an option for REO properties to monitor their assets using modern-day technology including mobile devices.

FrontPoint Security has partnered with Alarm.com and General Electric to offer a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week monitoring service using interactive tools that allows customers to remotely set or disarm an alarm system and obtain live video footage of their property when they are not there.

"There was an opportunity to take advantage of a niche nobody else was serving," said Peter Rogers, COO and co-founder of FrontPoint Security. "We have a unique combination of attributes and offer world-class service which is unusual in the alarm industry."

Unlike traditional alarm systems, FrontPoint's security solution does not require a phone line. FrontPoint uses wireless sensors, made by GE Security, into door sensors, window sensors, glass break sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors and other areas throughout a property. These sensors communicate to FrontPoint's monitoring center using a reliable and safe cellular network, which works even if an intruder destroys the alarm control panel.

"This is a patented technology that is impossible for an intruder to defeat," Rogers said. "With most alarm systems, an intruder can get in by cutting the phone line. But with our system, the monitoring center will always know if someone is inside the house and we will have the ability to notify the police if there is a robbery taking place."

With the FrontPoint alarm system, customers can always have access to and control their security system from any place that has an Internet access, whether it is a computer or a mobile device. FrontPoint will send e-mails and text message alerts to the cellular phone whenever important activity occurs inside the property, such as a child arriving home from school, a medicine cabinet opening, and a pet walker leaving or arriving.

"What stands us apart from our competitors is that every one of our systems contain the GSM cellular communication link-and all you need is an Internet connection to monitor the safety of your property," Rogers said. "We provide constant connection whether someone is disarming the alarm or an intruder has entered the property. You will always know what is happening at your property."

There is also a free application available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry mobile phone users. With the application, customers can remotely arm or disarm their alarm from their phone, receive messages whenever an individual uses the system and even watch live video footage.

Another feature of the system allows customers to control the lights, locks and thermometer of a property from their wireless phone.

Rogers estimated that about 400,000 customers throughout the United States and Canada use the Alarm.com system. Rogers said the main reasons why so many are installing this system is the elimination of household phone lines and the interactive features.

"People love being connected to their home through their cellular phone," Rogers said. "Our customers love the interactive tools allowing them to control their system at all times and always having the capability to follow what is happening at their property."

Rogers said FrontPoint and Alarm.com emphasize that their product is safer, smarter, simpler and more affordable than other alarm systems.

Because of the product's simplicity, installation is done by the end user and usually takes less than 30 minutes. The three steps to set up the alarm system inside a property is to first plug in the wireless control panel, then place the wireless sensors in a room, and then call FrontPoint to activate the system. Each alarm system's sensors are tested and quality checked before being shipped, allowing the system to function once it is installed.

"This is an affordable and flexible method to protect your assets," Rogers said. "We are staying ahead of the curve by anticipating the market and demand for interactive features and are always looking to make this an even better product."