[September 29, 2014]

Protection One Introduces Signal Chat, the Industry's First Text Event Notification Service for Disposition of Schedule Alarm Events

Protection 1, the largest full-service business and home security company in the U.S., today announced the introduction of Signal Chat, its innovative notification service that allow end-users to disposition Schedule Alarm Events, such as Late-to-Open/Late-to-Close, via text messaging chats on their smart phones with Protection 1's Central Station or other site contacts. Signal Chat will help users balance important schedule notifications with the cost of false police dispatches for unresolved notifications.

Many end users, particularly retailers, banks and restaurant operators use monitored schedules to determine when a site burglar alarm system should be armed or disarmed. Exceptions to that schedule, such as a "late-to-close" signal for example, could indicate that employees are running late getting a store ready to close, or indicate a more serious situation. That's when Signal Chat can help. The Signal Chat test alert can quickly get the attention of store associates and let them know that an event needs to be resolved. In the event that a disposition cannot be resolved through Signal Chat within a short time window, notifications revert to traditional contact list escalation paths to ensure notification is always achieved.

"At Protection 1, we are always looking for ways to improve the customer experience," said Lisa Ciappetta, Senior Director of Marketing and Technology for Protection 1. "Signa Chat uses a communication method that smartphone users are proven to respond to - text messages - as the platform to alert site contacts about late-to-open/late-to-close events. This will ultimately help increase response rates to these events and employee safety, while reducing costs and time associated with phone notifications and potential false police dispatch incidents."

Designed using National Accounts customer feedback, Signal Chat allows site contacts to chat with each other about the event via a chat interface and resolve or disposition the event within the chat session. The site contact can choose to extend the open or close time, chat with a Protection 1 operator or call Protection 1's monitoring center directly from the Signal Chat interface on their smart phone.

"Many of our National Account customers with dispersed locations, particularly those in the retail and restaurant industries, have a critical need to be notified of locations that are late to open or close," said Bob Dale, Senior Vice President at Protection 1. "These events can lead to lost profits or, more importantly, indicate a life-safety threat to associates. While Signal Chat is applicable to businesses of any size, it was created specifically to meet the needs of our largest customers."

About Protection 1

Protection 1, the largest full service business and home security company in the U.S., provides installation, maintenance, and monitoring of single-family home security systems, business security systems and multifamily security systems.

Protection 1 serves nearly 2 million customers and employs over 3,500 people in more than 70 office locations and five UL Certified monitoring centers across the country. The company has a 97.3% customer satisfaction rating and an A+ Better Business Bureau Rating. In keeping with the company's unwavering focus on customer service, the automated phone attendant has been removed, allowing customers to interact immediately with customer care personnel. In addition, Protection 1 has introduced its Tech Tracker notification service as well as a same-day service policy.

In addition, Protection 1 offers network management services through its Network Operations Center and is the only company in the security industry to hold Cisco (News - Alert) Cloud and Managed Services Express Partner Certification.

Since 2012, the company has been recognized by leading industry publications SDM Magazine and Security Sales and Integration as Dealer of the Year and Installer of the Year respectively for the company's commitment to its customers, the industry and the communities it serves. For more information about Protection 1, visit Protection1.com.

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