For some, POTS can be a new and even foreign topic. Plain old telephone service (POTS) is a type of telecommunications service that offers traditional analog, landline telephone services. POTS utilizes twisted pair copper wires to transmit voice calls from one location to another across a publicly switched telephone network (PSTN). This connection is reliable and provides quality sound, although it has limited capabilities. POTS is still the most widely used form of telecommunication today.
Landlines have been around for over a hundred years. Why is there a sudden urgency to replace them?
Over the past few years, the FCC has allowed legacy carriers to come out of contract with analog lines. This led to a reduction of skilled workers who can repair and install the lines, as well as a shutdown of legacy central office facilities that provided those last-mile copper handoffs. So, companies are racing to find alternative solutions to provide dial tone to legacy devices.
As carriers are retiring copper telecom infrastructure and support, costs are increasing rapidly, in some cases, as much as 500%. By installing a POTs alternative solutions, customers can save up to 30% in cost savings and experience extensive reliability.
Why VoIP Service Isn’t the Answer in All Cases
Traditional VoIP typically used a compressed method of transmitting audio. With legacy devices like fire and security panels, the compressed audio does not make it back to the central station, and the signals do not get sent and received correctly. With a POTS alternative, we can deliver a purpose-built device— in addition to an infrastructure that allows for the uncompressed audio to make it intact from the panel to the central station.
When You Can’t Afford to Be Down…
A POTs alternative device is usually installed in your telco or electrical room. It has an internal battery backup that lasts about 24 hours. So, in the event of a premise power outage, the device gracefully fails over to its battery. Any in-progress calls are not impacted. The backup battery will keep those legacy analog devices up and running throughout the power outage. These devices have an LED screen that reports the lines it is connected to as well as the strength of the connectivity. For this reason, POTs alternatives are the safest and most reliable solution for maintaining lines connected to your fire, security and sprinkler alarms, elevators, call boxes, fax lines and emergency phones around your property/facility.
POTS Transformation is estimated to have a cost savings of 30%. Where does this savings come from?
POTS rates vary depending on national region and state surcharges. With a POTs alternative, you get stable pricing for the contracted period. By normalizing the rate, not increasing it month over month, and removing all the state charges that were traditionally associated with POTS lines, we are able to provide an immediate savings of 30%.
To determine if a POTs alternative makes sense for your company, you should work with a Technology Consultant who is well-versed in how these devices function and has access to wholesale pricing with best-in-class providers.
