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More than 25 IP-based telephone services providers located throughout the United States have confirmed their phone networks meet the characteristics required by ADT Security Services to be a primary method of transmitting alarm signals to ADT’s Customer Monitoring Centers.

These telephone service providers together represent nearly all of the digital phone services markets and provide coverage to nearly every region of the United States.

Following its successful roll out to residential customers in late 2006, ADT is expanding its Voice over Internet Protocol/Digital Phone policy to cover burglar alarm monitoring for business customers. ADT is reportedly among the first nationwide security services companies that allow business burglar alarm monitoring using qualified VoIP/digital phone service providers as a primary method of alarm signal transmission.

According to John Koch, president of ADT North America, ADT has extended its leadership position within the security industry with the strong support of the cable and telecommunications companies.

“ADT’s on-going relationships with cable and telecommunications companies have paved the way for both residential and commercial customers to take advantage of a majority of the VoIP/digital phone services available while maintaining security monitoring over a network managed and maintained by the service provider for reliability,” explained Koch in a press release.

With ADT’s policy customers can use a phone service provided by a Qualified Managed Facility Voice Network as a primary means of transmitting burglar alarm signals to ADT’s 24-hour Customer Monitoring Centers.

A set of phone network characteristics has been established by ADT that IP-based phone services providers must meet in order to be considered a Qualified Managed Facilities Voice Network.

These phone network characteristics include managing and maintaining a physical facilities network with major and minor disaster recovery plans in place. This in turn includes specific network power restoration procedures, which offers professional installation of IP-based phone service to preserve primary line seizure for alarm signal transmission, and having a physical facilities network that helps provide real-time transmission of voice signals carrying alarm formats unchanged.

ADT will continue to require its customers using such phone services to either keep their traditional phone line or to install a cellular transmission system if an IP-based phone services provider has not informed ADT that it meets these characteristics.

Customers are always recommended by ADT to use an additional back-up method of communication to connect their alarm system to ADT’s monitoring centers regardless of the type of phone service used.

Cable or telecommunications provider may ask the customers who switch from a land line to an IP-based telephone service to contact ADT when the new phone service is installed.

ADT Security Services, a unit of Tyco Fire & Security, is the provider of electronic security services to nearly six million commercial, government and residential customers throughout North America.

Want the latest scoop on all things VoIP? Make sure you attend INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & Expo East, January 23-26, 2007 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While you’re waiting for the show to start, check out Rich Tehrani’s analysis of the communications industry in 2007.

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Anuradha Shukla is a contributing editor for TMCnet, covering call centers, CRM and information technology. To see more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.