Ooma Inc., a smart communications platform for businesses and consumers, has introduced the Ooma Remote Device Manager, a web portal for monitoring and managing its Ooma AirDial turnkey POTS replacement solution.
Legacy copper-wire phone lines, also known as plain old telephone service or POTS, are being phased out by telecommunications providers. This creates a significant challenge for safety devices and business-critical systems that require a POTS line – ranging from fire alarm panels to elevator phones, fax machines, public safety phones, building access systems and more – that can’t be migrated to voice over internet (VoIP) service.
Ooma AirDial provides a turnkey replacement for POTS lines by combining the AirDial base station with virtual analog phone service from Ooma and a data connection through a nationwide wireless network.
Affordable and simple to install, Ooma AirDial is easy to manage through the Ooma Remote Device Manager, or RDM, web portal.
Anyone involved in an AirDial deployment – IT teams, property managers, telecom supervisors, etc. – can access the RDM portal anywhere at any time to view the status of AirDial devices. The RDM can be customized to display key data such as in-service status, wireless signal strength and the health of the backup battery.
The RDM can be set to send automatic notifications, by text or email, to multiple users whenever there are events such as an AirDial device going out of service or having a low battery. What’s more, IT consultants managing AirDial installations for multiple customers can monitor devices across their accounts and even control billing and selection of service plans.
To see AirDial in action to Brickpoint Properties, watch the short video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuSSBHwbGW0.
Although there are millions of POTS lines remaining in the United States, industry analysts expect they could disappear completely within five years. At the same time, service costs are going up dramatically as providers struggle to support their remaining POTS infrastructure from a smaller pool of customers.
Ooma commissioned a report from IDC, titled “Impending Copper Sunset Could Leave Critical Infrastructure in the Dark,” which explores the problem and gives guidance on finding solutions. The report is available to download for free at https://www.ooma.com/idc-report/.
Ooma AirDial is designed from the ground up as a complete POTS replacement solution. AirDial’s many features, in addition to the new RDM, include:
- Up to four analog connections with standard dial tone and full backwards POTS compatibility
- Options for either an exclusively wireless connection or failover from a wired broadband connection to wireless
- Backup battery that will maintain service for eight hours or more during an outage
- LCD display that shows wireless signal strength, battery status and phone line status
- Heat sink and ventilation for fan-less cooling
- Number porting
- Mounting that can be either vertical (wall) or horizontal (shelf)
Ooma AirDial will be shown April 11-14 at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo at Booth #1931 in Las Vegas. The product is available in the United States only. To learn more, visit https://www.ooma.com/airdial.
