News Items From 2002

12/17/02    Central One Web Site Gets Face Lift and Guided Tour

The Central One web site now incorporates uniform theme and animated logos that link to our home page.  Our home page now features a tour of the site.  At the bottom of each page on the tour is a link to the next page.

11/20/02  Web Site for Retail Subscribers:

Central One is preparing to release a new web site for retail subscribers for beta testing on December 1, 2002.  The site is named www.MySecurityAlarm.com.  It will allow your subscribers to view limited account information, display alarm history, and test their system on line.  A new ten character field has been added to the subscriber database record for an internet access password.  If you wish to allow your subscribers to use the site, simply enter a password in the new field so they can log in.  We are interested in knowing what additional functionality you would like to see on the system.  We would also like to know what you DON'T want to see on the site.  The site is being designed to be practical and generic.  Some of the ideas under consideration include generic advertising (radio backup, emailing signals, etc.), allowing the subscriber to update the callout list and certain other information, and a form that permits a subscriber to request a service call.  Send us your feedback a.s.a.p. so that your ideas can be incorporated into the first release version.

10/28/02  New Alarm Receivers

Central One announces the addition of six new Osborne Hoffman 2000 alarm receivers. Central One expects these new receivers to facilitate the retirement of the "super receiver" created in 1994 to provide advanced functions like line card sharing and real time ANI (automatic calling number identification). The Osborne Hoffman receivers handle all of the formats presently handled by the super receiver. In addition, we expect only the legacy generic ITI format to require a special telephone number. This means you can program all formats to the same 800 number (except ITI). In the past we needed a separate 800 number for SIA and Radionics formats. For comprehensive information about the formats that can be accepted by the Osborne Hoffman receiver please read bulletin 1031. To summarize the new receivers accept all the legacy pulse formats (3X1, 4X1, and 4X2) plus all the legacy high speed and super fast formats plus sia (bulletin 1033) contact id bulletin 1032) and Radionics BFSK, modem 2 and modem 3. Real time ANI or caller id will be collected on all signals and placed in the alarm log. The actual receiver output will also be placed in the alarm log's receiver text field. Central One will begin to convert existing toll free receiver numbers to the new receivers beginning in November 2002.

10/22/02  New Security Requirements by U.L.

U.L. has proposed new requirements concerning remote access logins.  The most significant changes are that passwords will be required to be a minimum length and that all passwords must be changed every three months.  Click here for details on the U.L. proposals.  Click here for general information about Central One's data security policy.  Central One is considering additional security measures in connection with the entry of database information received by fax or email.  In the future we expect to require a valid dealer number and pin or password on each fax or email submitted for data entry.  The database management software will enforce this requirement by disallowing any edits unless the proper authentication is entered on the file update form.

10/7/02  Central One Sponsors Alarm Association Meeting

Central One will sponsor the meetings of the Broward and Palm Beach chapters of the Alarm Association of Florida and will demonstrate some of its many features and benefits, including web and mobile access.  The Broward meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 9 at Silmar 1883 East State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale.  The Palm Beach meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10 at A.D.I. at 3020 Highridge Rd., Suite. 500, Boynton Beach.

9/18/02  Central One Enhances Internet Connectivity

UUNet, the largest provider of internet backbone services, experienced an OC48 fiber optic cable cut that caused the interruption of service to all of its customers in the Miami area including Central One and several major ISP's.  Internet access was down from early afternoon to late evening.  While this type of service interruption should be rare we are now installing a diversely routed second T1 so that important services such as Citrix remote access will not be lost.  Our outbound email messaging facilities are further backed up by dial-up connections.  If both T1's go down we can still complete our outbound messaging responsibilities.

9/10/02  Central One Enhances Internet Reports

Plans for a variety of reports via remote access have been made.  To see what's planned please access the Remote Access Manual and go to the end of the document.  Comments and suggestions should be made no later than the end of this month or it will be too late to include them in the remote access program this time.

9/4/02  Central One Enhances Remote Access Menu

There are a few changes to remote access.  Under display account (F1) you now have a print (F5) option.  If you are viewing subscriber data then F5 will print the account information.  If you are viewing history then F5 will print the history.  Access to print subscriber data will be denied unless you have subscriber data print access established in your user profile.  The user profile has also been enhanced to contain fields to restrict users to the dealer's business hours schedule.  Unless you specifically grant this access your employees will not be able to log in to the Citrix remote terminal after hours.  See bulletin 3006 for important information about data security.

9/3/02  Store Your Login on Your Cellular Phone

You may now store your login sequence in your cellular phone or other portable web device.  The instructions for doing so have been added to the original mobile web device instruction document.  Using the mobile web is now easier than using FaxBack.

8/29/02  Internet Access Update

The Citrix terminal server timeout mechanism has been enhanced.  The inactivity timer is set for four minutes.  At the expiration of the time your terminal will beep ten times, one second apart, so that you may press a key to prevent the timeout and continue.  If you do not press a key the program will perform clean-up (unlock accounts, etc.) and then close the terminal session and window automatically.  Time outs are necessary because a limited number of terminal sessions are available.

8/21/02  Download Files Now Available Via Internet Dialup or DSL Connection

If you are using Central One's download software and would like to get your files via the internet (instead of modem dial-up) we now have a web service solution available.  Contact Mike McIntosh for details.

8/12/02  Two Mobile Web Sites Ready

Two mobile web device sites are out of beta and now ready for general use.  You can look up account numbers by subscriber name, view account information and alarm history from the screen of your cellular phone or other mobile device.  Tell Central One what power you would like to hold in the palm of your hand!  If you use a Nextel Motorola I90c click here to walk through the step by step set up procedure.

7/31/02  Security Industry Association Unveils New Products Showcase

The Security Industry Association unveils the new products showcase web site.

7/25/02  Dispatch Agency Database Changes

A significant number of changes have been made to the dispatch agency database.  If you are performing your own data entry you need to update your dispatch agency list immediately.

7/18/02  Monitoring Contract Considerations

Could your FLORIDA monitoring contracts be void and unenforceable?  If certain language does not appear then it is possible.

7/8/02  Fire Contracting Companies Required to be U. L. Listed

The Palm Beach County, Florida, Fire Rescue Department announced that effective 9/1/2002 fire alarm permits will not be approved for systems involving flow switch monitoring unless the installation company is U.L. listed.  Contact Jeffrey P. Collins, Deputy Fire Marshall, (561) 616-7030 if you have questions.

6/25/02  Mobile Central Station Access

Central One announces support for mobile web devices.  Technicians and other employees can access account information and alarm history from handheld web enabled phones and other personal digital assistants.

6/10/02  Retransmit Any Signal To Up To Five Email Addresses

Central One introduces instant emailing of alarm signals to the subscriber or dealer, up to five emails per signal.