Consumer Alert!

FACTS:

1. Many seniors are switching to phone service provided by Cable TV and internet providers.
2. Standard PERS units WILL NOT WORK with these services 100% of the time. Their effectiveness is intermittent and may not work when you need it most!!
3. VRI's team of engineers has developed a solution that will work 100% of the time!
4. Many providers continue to tell potential customers that the analog units work on a digital system. Don't be fooled, without significant upgrades, they don't work!!!

With recent advancements in communications technology, many seniors who are relying on a PERS (Personal Emergency Response System) or a medical alert unit to summon help in an emergency may be at great risk. A standard PERS is an analog system based on technology designed using a POTS (plain old telephone system) line to send signals to a central monitoring center. The introduction of digital communications technology including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), digital dialtone and bundled phone services from cable providers could have a material impact on the PERS industry.

Because of the discounts offered by telephone and cable providers, many consumers are choosing to use non-traditional services for their home telephone such as VoIP. This technology allows people to communicate using their standard telephone over a high-speed Internet connection rather than a standard telephone line. VoIP technology requires the use of a VoIP modem. The VoIP modem connects the customer's telephone to the same cable television coaxial cable that also delivers cable television service and Internet service from providers such as Time Warner, Comcast, Charter, Cox, RCN and Cablevision.

Because VoIP technology uses the Internet's method of transmitting data in "packets" to transmit audio signals, transmission delays and bandwidth management by the cable service provider can and often do cause data loss or delays between a medical alarm company's alert system and their alarm receiver. Although a technician may find momentary success in connecting a PERS system to a VoIP modem it will not always be highly reliable. As a result, a standard PERS unit is not compatible with VoIP and anyone with a standard PERS unit and digital phone service (VoIP) is at risk for unreliable service.

Until now, the only options have been to leave the consumer with a PERS unit that may or may not work or discontinue the service altogether. VRI is pleased to announce a solution that eliminates the problems of a VoIP phone system, and provides a 100% solution to seniors using a VRI medical alert. We look forward to having an opportunity to share it with you. Please call us at 888-526-1456 or read about our VoIP Medical Alert.