Thanks for attending the Symposium!

Thanks for attending the Symposium!

On behalf of all of us WHIRC, we would like to thank all our customers, dealers, manufacturers, and peers that attended our 13th annual Partner Symposium, which was held at Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, MN on July 20, 2023.

If you were unable to join us this year, here is what you missed.

We focused on the theme Reliability You Can Count On. One of the many highlights of the day-long event was the four-person dealer panel, which gave guests the opportunity to discuss several topics including how technology sunsets impact our business, labor and staffing, and technology integrations. Industry peers shared best practices and discussed changes in the industry.

Guest speakers from OneTel, Alula, Bongo Technologies, and Telguard presented their latest products and shared insights on navigating the POTS sunset. Vendors answered questions and provided additional information on a variety of topics including products, platforms, technology, and regulatory standards.

For the first time, WHIRC was able to deliver continuing education credits to its attendees. Scott Gobbi from Telguard presented a Certified Class on Alarm Communication Technology.

Some dealer comments heard throughout the day included: “Great event;” “Thank you so much for all the information;” and “We will be evaluating how to implement this new technology.”

Some other positive feedback we heard came from Chris Walsh from Stone Security: “We pass any increased costs onto our customers through our monitoring pricing because we monitor with the best.”

WHIRC is proud to host a space for dealers, manufacturers, and industry partners to come together and exchange ideas, connect, and learn about the latest technology. If you missed the opportunity this year, we hope to see you in the summer of 2024!

Convert phone lines to cellular with Bongo P2C communicator

Convert phone lines to cellular with Bongo P2C communicator

Plain old telephone service (POTS) is no longer the most reliable communication path and in many cases, no longer functions at all. Now is a great time to begin transitioning POTS communication to cellular, like elevator phone lines.

WH International Response Center (WHIRC) has partnered with Bongo Technologies, a manufacturer of cellular communicators. All Bongo devices communicate on FirstNet, a prioritized network, that will keep the users safe and connected. Bongo’s P2C (phone to cell) communicator is an easy way to move your equipment off unreliable copper POTS lines and onto FirstNet. Connect the existing line directly into Bongo without needing to reprogram your panel. Some of the Bongo features include:

  • Priority cellular service to communicate with emergency responders.
  • Already embedded, certified, and approved on the FirstNet Network.
  • Emergency cellular voice plan.
  • Authorized FirstNet TMA certified central call center monitoring.
  • Easy to install.

All of Bongo P2C communicators are monitored 24/7 by WHIRC who will quickly respond and properly route the calls. Learn more at https://bongotechnologies.com/ or call Ashley Raisanen from WHIRC at 763-477-3122.

WHIRC receives UL listing for 30th straight year

WHIRC receives UL listing for 30th straight year

Rockford, Minn. (March 14, 2023) — WH International Response Center (WHIRC) recently received its Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) listing as a Central Monitoring Station for the 30th straight year, dating back to 1994. This means WHIRC has met or exceeded quality, safety and training standards set by UL. WHIRC is committed to exceeding UL’s standards to ensure continuity of quality service to its customers.

“At WHIRC, we’re more than alarm monitoring,” said WHIRC Technology & Dealer Manager Ashley Raisanen. “We provide collaborative solutions and reliable support for 24/7 monitoring.”

To learn more, visit WHIRC’s website at whirc.com or call (800) 858-7811.

WHIRC is a leading national central station monitoring partner for residential and commercial security, alarm, video and personal emergency response system dealers. WHIRC’s headquarters are located in Rockford, Minn.

New look to WHIRC’s online payment portal!

New look to WHIRC’s online payment portal!

WHIRC is excited to announce an update to the online bill pay portal! Starting on March 30, the online payment portal will have a new look and feel. The new payment portal will also offer a Quick Pay option, allowing you to make an electric bill payment without having to take the time to log into your account.

There is nothing you need to do as a result of this change. Your login information is not changing, your payment methods will be saved, and the payment site URL will not change.

View some before and after comparisons below:

 

If you have any questions, please give our team a call at (800) 858-7811. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Check out the new payment portal for yourself at billing.whe.org. Thank you for being a customer!

New technology from WHIRC

New technology from WHIRC

As we kick off 2023, the 3G sunset is in the rearview mirror and we can put our full attention and resources towards growth. Video is the fastest growing sector of the security market and can bring high value to your customers. Did you know that now you can add recurring revenue to your video services?

With our video health monitoring, video verification, and structured remote guard tour offerings, WHIRC can help you achieve your revenue goals. We have direct integration with multiple video platforms like OpenEye, and soon we will be offering Digital Watchdog. For video systems that without direct integration, we have the Universal Connector which translates email communications from the video system into alarm signals that we can act on.

WHIRC is committed to providing reliable and custom monitoring solutions for you and your customers. As reliability from traditional phone lines continues to decrease, installing a new communicator, either cellular or Internet Protocol, ensures alarm signal continuity. Replacing traditional phones lines will decrease the time that it takes to report a signal and minimizes signal interruption. Let us know if we can assist with transitioning your customers.

WHIRC is excited to expand our offerings in 2023! Keep your eyes peeled for the 2023 WHIRC Dealer Symposium coming this summer. We hope to see you there!