Home Security Systems: Live Without a Wire

Landlines are becoming less common. As alternatives like cell phones and VoIP phone services increase in popularity, many consumers are concluding that the expense for home phone service via landline is increasingly unnecessary. But what do you do if you want a home security system?

Until recently, most home security systems required a landline. This was necessary to communicate the state of your home’s security system in real time to the security monitoring company.

Recently, a number of home security companies have begun to offer monitoring with no landline required. The ‘landlineless’ systems communicate with the monitoring service via cell phone networks. The home security system can send and receive information in the same way your cell phone does. But you don’t even need a cell phone. It’s all built into the system.

Ackerman Security, based in Atlanta, is one company that offers cell phone only service. Though this system can be used as a backup for a landline-based system in the event the land line has been cut, it also can function without a landline. The system adds $50 to the installation fees and $5/month to the monitoring fees. This extra charge compares favorably with basic service on a landline, which typically range between $25 and $40/month.

However, if you have yet to drop your landline, there are couple things to consider before doing so.
- Power Outages: In the event of a prolonged power outage, your landline will continue to operate because they have their own independent power source. Your cell phone will eventually lose its charge.
- Natural Disasters: Similarly, landlines may be more reliable in the event of a natural disaster.

Atlanta Home Security Systems: No Landline Required
List of Atlanta home security sytems that do not require a landline