POTS replacement is a 7–10 year commitment per device. The vendor you pick will be in your building longer than most employees. Use these twelve questions to compare offers apples-to-apples.
Hardware and compliance
- Is the device UL 864 / NFPA 72 listed for fire-alarm signaling?
- Does it support dual-SIM / multi-carrier failover, and which carriers?
- What is the battery runtime at full load, and how often must the battery be replaced?
- Does the device send a line-fault supervisory signal the panel and central station understand?
Installation and rollout
- Are devices pre-provisioned and pre-labeled per site, or shipped generic?
- What is the install time per line, and do I need a licensed tech?
- For multi-site, can you provide regional install coverage? See our rollout playbook.
Service, support and economics
- Is pricing bundled (one monthly per line) or unbundled (device + service + support separate)?
- Is support U.S.-based, and what is the response SLA on a down-fire-alarm line?
- Are firmware updates pushed over-the-air at no charge?
- Can you bill all my sites on one master invoice?
- What are the exit terms — can I take the device with me, and is there an ETF?
How we answer these
The POTS Box ships UL 864 listed, dual-SIM, 8h+ battery, pre-provisioned, with U.S. support, OTA firmware, one master invoice, and no early-termination penalty. We'd rather earn the renewal than trap you in it. Request the scorecard filled in for your portfolio.
Channel partners and MSPs — see the partner program for revenue share and white-glove rollout support.