There's An App For That-securing Your Home From Your Mobile Phone

By Author: Peter Rich
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There's an App for That-Securing Your Home from Your Mobile Phone

Have you ever run out the door to work in the morning and forgotten to arm your home security system? If you don't have the new cell phone app from your security company, you will need to turn around and drive back to your home in order to turn on the alarm. If you do have the new cell phone app, your day just got easier. Select the program, enter the security code, and arm your system remotely. You can do this anywhere you have a cellular signal.

Most home alarm systems rely on landline phones to communicate with the emergency center and the homeowner if the alarm goes off. However, if you only have a cell phone, this can be a problem. Your home security company needs to use the latest digital technology to transmit signals to cell phones.

Digital cellular technology has been standard for all cell phone service providers since 2008. This presented a problem for home security providers at first but they have updated their technologies to match digital cellular requirements, and now home security companies offer homeowners the option ...
... to use their cell phones for notification purposes.

The new technology offers real-time access to the home security system from anywhere you have cell reception. This is the best peace of mind when you go on vacation because you can know what is going on at home just by accessing the app on your cell phone.

Accessing Your Home Security System Through an App

The good news is that you can access your home security system through a cell phone app. The first thing you must do, of course, is download the app to your phone. Your security company's customer service department will give you the website address where you can locate and download the app for your particular system.

Read the system requirements carefully before you download the application. You must make sure your cell phone is compatible in order to use it successfully.

Talk to your installer or the customer service representatives at your home security company to find out all the details, but the cell phone app should give you the following powers:

* Access to your security panel from your cell phone: Use the app to find out if your home security system is armed and ready to protect your home and family. You may be able to have the app send you automatic emails or text messages when the system detects an open door, a flood, or high carbon monoxide levels. Depending on the type of system you have installed in your home, the app can also notify you automatically if the motion sensor goes off.

* Password protection: Your new app should definitely be password protected. If your cell phone is ever stolen, the thief may be able to access your home security alarm and shut it off if the app is not password protected. Many people simply use the same security code they use at home to access the security panel, but you may want to use a different code to add additional protection. Just make sure you remember the password!

* Ability to arm and disarm the system remotely: The cell phone app should allow you to arm your home security system from your cell phone. Also, you should be able to disarm the system if you need to.

* Video footage of your property: Depending on the security system you have installed, you may be able to access live, real-time video of what is happening in your home. In addition, the system may let you access recorded video clips so you can check events that happened while you were away. You may even be able to adjust the pan and tilt of security cameras installed on your property, giving you incredible freedom to find out what's going on.

* Access to history: The cell phone app may allow you to access the history of your home security system, including events which were reported to the monitoring company, power failures, and open doors or windows.

It's All About Control

You have a security system in your home to give you peace of mind and help you control what happens even if you are not there. The home security cell phone app gives you even more control over your home environment. Completely customizable, you decide which notifications you want to receive and how you want to view security footage. More peace of mind--you can never have too much. Technology is a wonderful thing!
About Author:
An Alarm.com system is much more than home security systems. In addition to forwarding any alarm to the monitoring center for emergency response, Alarm.com lets you remotely monitor non-alarm activity at the property around the clock, even when the system is disarmed. Fully customizable settings ensure you get exactly the information you want, only when you want it.