By now, you’ve probably heard the news that the FCC has authorized the major telcos to stop the maintenance of the copper wires or the traditional PSTN, allowing them to transition customers to digital solutions.  While this is great news for most of us, for those who rely on analog technologies that don’t work well with the newer, digital modes of communications, the change presents a challenge.  The good news for them, however, is the POTS IN A BOX® enables businesses to continue using their analog systems over digital solutions with one, simple device.  But just what is POTS IN A BOX®?  POTS IN A BOX® is an LTE/Cellular/Wi-Fi/PSTN/FirstNet-capable router that can enable many combinations of legacy analog wireline in-band Voice, M2M, Data, DTMF, Analog Data Modem Tones, Fax and Alarm System Signals. These functions – historically supported by POTS Lines – can be delivered via POTS IN A BOX® and carried over LAN or WAN internet connections such as fiber optics or cable connections.

While this makes the POTS IN A BOX® a superhero for most of us, there are some surprising powers the device can bring to your technology stack.  Here are 10 things you may not have known that the POTS IN A BOX® device can do:

1. Network Failover Capabilities – Use Dual SIM/LTE, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi:  The POTS IN A BOX® does not use just one failover method, but three.  Basic Dual SIM failover involves the use of two LTE SIM cards so, in the event that one card fails, the service will automatically and seamlessly transfer to the second.  The ethernet or wi-fi connection can be used as a primary or secondary connection.
2. Support for reliable legacy Fax Transmission – Fax machines are standard communications devices for most of us, and in some cases are even required for compliance reasons as fax terminals are thought to be one of the most secure communications transmission protocols.  But fax transmission is not compatible with the newer, digital transmission protocols, many have had to maintain the copper, analog lines needed for reliable fax communications.  However, the POTS IN A BOX® mimics the power of the analog transmission lines, enabling your fax lines to work over digital and IP transmission lines with the same level of accuracy and reliability you have become accustomed to.
3. VoIP transmission for voice calls with advanced features – Three-way calling, blind transfer, call recording.  These are just some of the VoIP features the POTS IN A BOX® gives you access to with your current, analog telephony devices.
4. Supports multiple protocols for Fire & Security Alarms – The 2013 edition of NFPA 72 allows for multiple communications methods including internet and a single, cellular appliance to replace all existing fire panel wireline communications landlines. The POTS IN A BOX® meets the compliance requirements for this device, as well as meets requirements for the UL 60950-1 and UL E335801.
5. Extends the life of your Analog Endpoints – POTS IN A BOX® is such a unique technology that it can even make older, analog devices able to function the same way they always have but on newer, digital networks.  That vintage 1980’s handset that has graced your bedside since your teenage years suddenly has been given a new gift of life.  The POTS IN A BOX® can convert the analog signals from these devices into digital with superior accuracy and reliability, enabling you to keep working with the tools you have grown accustomed to.
6. Legacy Analog modem for a variety of applications – Strange to think, but there was a day when the internet was not an “always-on” technology.  And you had to carefully moderate the amount of time you spent “on the web” to make sure you were still reachable over the telephone.  Unless you had the resources to have a dedicated phone line just for your internet connection.  Most of us did not.  The chirpy tones and dissonant screech of the modem as it worked its magic to connect to the world wide web can bring a sense of nostalgia for those of us who are old enough to remember it.  But despite its vintage nature, there are devices, believe it or not, that still rely on this analog technology to function.  Some older cash registers, for example, still dial-up that phone line to authorize a credit card transaction.  And thanks to the POTS IN A BOX®, there is no need for a business to remove all of these analog modem devices from their technology network.
7. Elevator Alarm monitoring and emergency communications – In 1968, the numbers 9-1-1 were established as the nationwide telephone number for users to call in emergencies that would directly connect them to the resource needed.  Technology built into the copper PSTN enabled emergency responders to pinpoint the exact location the call is being made from, meaning that no words even need to be spoken for the emergency personnel to find the caller.  Unfortunately, even with all of the advances and benefits of newer digital technologies, 911 was not as reliable and location information was not as accurate.  Mainly because, in the same way as cell phones, a digital handset can connect from any internet connection, so the location is not stationary.  The POTS IN A BOX® provides a communications network interface and pathway, alarm signals initiated by and from the fire panel communications devices can be transmitted over several different telco provisioned pathways including MPLS, Internet, and the Digital Cellular Data Network to a designated monitoring station.
8. Support Analog M2M (Machine-to-Machine) needs – Did you know that the POTS IN A BOX® does more than just connect your analog telephony equipment to the digital PSTN?  The POTS IN A BOX® can actively monitor analog machine needs, such as sharing the activities of one valve to the machine monitoring the function, giving new life to older machines and giving you vital data on the health and production on the equipment being monitored.
9. SCADA Support – Telemetry command/control for telecom, Waste/Water, Energy, Oil & Gas, Transportation – SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) are systems comprised of a combination of computers, GUIs, and peripheral devices (usually controllers) all working together for the purpose of monitoring and feeding data back to a central “hub”.  For example, maybe there is a system of 800 gauges or sensors in a factory that all send their real-time (or set interval) data back to the hub where it is processed and used to feed information into a GUI so that humans can analyze it, looking for discrepancies and other errors.  If an error is found, a remote operator can then make adjustments and ensure the continuation of service for the system.  The POTS IN A BOX® facilitates this communication to continue even after a switch over to digital.
10. Auto-dial for Elevator, Paging, Taxi phone lines – Elevators are highly regulated on both the local and national levels.  While the local level varies depending on where you are, the national standard in effect for accessible and usable buildings and facilities is ICC/ANSI A117.1. Within this standard, there are additional requirements for use of buildings and elements by persons with a wide range of abilities.  One of these is the requirement that the handset within the elevator itself must be auto-dial, that once the receiver is listed, the receiving ends phone begins ringing.  And replacing these POTS connected devices can be achieved without the need to replace the entire unit – thanks to POTS IN A BOX®.  The same can be said for auto-dial handsets for taxi and paging lines, keeping you connected seamlessly.

Get Started Today With POTS IN A BOX®

The POTS IN A BOX® is a truly unique device that has the ability to bring new life to your age-old equipment, enabling you to continue to provide the service and products you’ve invested so much time in while also keeping up with the changing technology and communication needs.