Are you considering a manual A/B Switch on your shared line? Compare the advantages and benefits of an automatic line sharing switch, like The Stick from Multi-Link.
Manual vs Automatic Line Sharing Switches
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Line sharing for projector application
Behind the scenes at your local movie theater, there is a lot going on to maintain a cinema projector. As with most high tech equipment, software updates are needed to optimize performance and remotely calibrate operation settings from time to time. Cinema projectors are no exception to this rule.
However, remote connectivity comes at a cost. As is evident in other industries, many times broadband access is not a financially viable solution for movie theaters given the upfront equipment cost and monthly service expenses. The dial-up modem is a cheaper alternative but monthly dedicated line costs are a factor to consider, especially with multiple locations. Phone line sharing switches can resolve the monthly costs and allow for secure access to remote equipment, like projectors and digital signage.
A single phone can cost $600/year. Hence, a business (theater) with 50 locations, eliminating one line per location, will save $30,000 per year in telecom costs! That’s a lot of popcorn— hint: LARGE is the best value 
. The Stick, or Polnet ACP, is an ideal solution for this application.
Other Remote Media Applications:
Classrooms and Auditoriums
Advertising & Digital Signage
Network Operations Centers (NOCs)
Video Walls
Corporate Conference Rooms
Conference Center Venues
Effective June 30, 2010 a new Repairs and Replacement program, “Upgrade and Save”, for Multi-Link products will be implemented.
We are pleased to continue repairing out of warranty equipment, but with rising costs it is often more cost effective to replace the unit and enjoy a new product along with the associated warranty.
With the “Upgrade and Save on Repairs” Program you get a $10 discount (off contracted “List” price) along with an extended year warranty for every new unit purchased to upgrade an old unit in the field. The program is simple:
When purchasing a new unit to replace an existing unit, mention the name of this program and make sure you provide the following: your full name, your company name, your email address, your phone number, number of units in “the sale”, the serial number of each unit being replaced in the field. Purchases can be made by phone or email. To make contact, send an email to cpuckett@multi-link.net or call us at 800.535.4651 and ask for Cindy Puckett!
The new pricing schedule for repairs can be downloaded from our Support page. Thanks for all the continued support for our family of cost-cutting equipment.
1. POS systems in fast paced retail environments typically use broadband for transaction processing. In many cases, dial-up modems are used as back-up in case of a network outage. Paying for a dedicated phone line for emergency use only is costly and wasteful. Multi-unit restaurant and department store chains save thousands of dollars annually by installing a line sharing device with a fax line and POS back-up line and significantly reduce fixed telecom costs. In a scenario with fewer POS transactions (only a few per day), a dial-up line is more economical. Sharing this line with a fax or phone is a practical way to lower overhead costs while processing sales normally.
2. When the network is down and normal in-band access is denied, how do you recover the network equipment? Remote Out-of-band access to serial console ports provides an efficient back door method for recovery. This can be through the use of a backup dial-up modem via the PSTN. However, paying for a phone line that you hope you never use is expensive.
Phone line sharing saves money for IT departments and MNS groups by eliminating costly phone lines dedicated for out-of-band dial up access to remote network equipment. Fixed telecom costs are dramatically reduced and a 3 month R.O.I. is typical. In addition to savings, the Polnet ACP is engineered to provide an additional layer of security to connected devices. Vulnerable pathways to equipment via the PSTN are protected by programmable Security Access Codes up to seven characters. There are over 35 million combinations to choose from, effectively creating a telephony firewall for dial-up connections.
3. Automated meter reading, or AMR, is the technology of automatically collecting consumption, diagnostic, and status data from energy metering devices (water, gas, electric) and transferring that data to a central database for billing, troubleshooting, and analyzing. This advance mainly saves utility providers the expense of periodic trips to each physical location to read a meter. Further savings can be achieved by sharing a POTS line for dial-up modems with multiple on-site meters and RTU’s. Installing nine devices on one phone is more cost effective than having nine individual lines to pay for.
4. Fuel tank monitoring is a method by which underground fuel tanks are measured for capacity and leak detection. Multiple modems connected to gauges can be accessed with only one phone line with a phone line sharing device. C-stores are a prime user as well as industrial fueling stations for commercial, government, and military use.
5. SOHO’s have always been a major consumer of phone line sharing. The basic set-up of the home office has remained unchanged over the years with the phone, PC, and ubiquitous fax machine, or all-in-one with fax capability, as the essential business tools. Phone line sharing devices such as The Stick have been equally important, helping to save the small business owner as much as $600 a year just by consolidating the fax and phone on the same line.
1. POS systems in fast paced retail environments typically use broadband for transaction processing. In many cases, dial-up modems are used as back-up in case of a network outage. Paying for a dedicated phone line for emergency use only is costly and wasteful. Multi-unit restaurant and department store chains save thousands of dollars annually by installing a line sharing device with a fax line and POS back-up line and significantly reduce fixed telecom costs. In a scenario with fewer POS transactions (only a few per day), a dial-up line is more economical. Sharing this line with a fax or phone is a practical way to lower overhead costs while processing sales normally.
2. When the network is down and normal in-band access is denied, how do you recover the network equipment? Remote Out-of-band access to serial console ports provides an efficient back door method for recovery. This can be through the use of a backup dial-up modem via the PSTN. However, paying for a phone line that you hope you never use is expensive.
Phone line sharing saves money for IT departments and MNS groups by eliminating costly phone lines dedicated for out-of-band dial up access to remote network equipment. Fixed telecom costs are dramatically reduced and a 3 month R.O.I. is typical. In addition to savings, the Polnet ACP is engineered to provide an additional layer of security to connected devices. Vulnerable pathways to equipment via the PSTN are protected by programmable Security Access Codes up to seven characters. There are over 35 million combinations to choose from, effectively creating a telephony firewall for dial-up connections.
3. Automated meter reading, or AMR, is the technology of automatically collecting consumption, diagnostic, and status data from energy metering devices (water, gas, electric) and transferring that data to a central database for billing, troubleshooting, and analyzing. This advance mainly saves utility providers the expense of periodic trips to each physical location to read a meter. Further savings can be achieved by sharing a POTS line for dial-up modems with multiple on-site meters and RTU’s. Installing nine devices on one phone is more cost effective than having nine individual lines to pay for.
4. Fuel tank monitoring is a method by which underground fuel tanks are measured for capacity and leak detection. Multiple modems connected to gauges can be accessed with only one phone line with a phone line sharing device. C-stores are a prime user as well as industrial fueling stations for commercial, government, and military use.
5. SOHO’s have always been a major consumer of phone line sharing. The basic set-up of the home office has remained unchanged over the years with the phone, PC, and ubiquitous fax machine, or all-in-one with fax capability, as the essential business tools. Phone line sharing devices such as The Stick have been equally important, helping to save the small business owner as much as $600 a year just by consolidating the fax and phone on the same line.
What’s your favorite application? Have another one you would like to share with us? Post a comment or drop me a line — sshelton@multi-link.net
Happy Holidays!
As an industry leader in phone-line sharing technology we obviously keep a close eye on market trends and consumer opinion regarding fax usage. After all, most of our products are installed with a fax, or fax modem, allowing full fax operation but without the cost of a monthly fax line. What’s interesting is that the line between those who avoid a fax (No-Faxers) and those who embrace it (Pro-Faxers) is becoming more distinct.
Considering that fax machines have been around in one form or another, e.g. Multi-Function Printers or All-in-One’s, for more than a century (courtesy of Alexander Bain in 1843) it comes as no surprise that detractors annually predict the ultimate demise of faxing as a useful technology.
A recent prediction has the fax machine dying off in 2010, along with the computer mouse I might add. Undeniably, on-line fax services, email, online conferencing, collaborative writing and editing, file sharing, and desktop sharing are all easily acquired, multi-platformed, and gaining in enthusiastic popularity.
So no need for a fax, right? Maybe, maybe not…
Even with dozens of document sharing applications available today, you would hard pressed to walk into any business, from a SOHO to Fortune 500, and not find a fax machine. There are approx. 130 million fax machines worldwide still in use, pumping out about 80 billion fax transmissions every year. Fax documents are still considered essential to a wide range of important business processes across all industries.
Why? Simplicity. Security. Familiarity. Some people still like to have that piece of paper in their hand.
Here are just a few commonly faxed documents: insurance claims, RFQ’s, PO’s, contracts, enrollment forms, NDF’s, W-9’s, invoices, resumes, tax filings, legal documents, expense reports, wire transfer confirmations, and so on. Perhaps even a family holiday recipe.
No doubt, faxes do come in handy. In a dramatic recent example, faxes were a critical fix for a router malfunction in the FAA’s computer system. Unbelievably, airlines were forced to use fax machines to send in flight plans that then had to be entered manually by controllers. If you were flying on Nov. 19th, you might want to redefine “useful technology” and thank the trusty fax.
So sound off —which camp are you in? Are a Pro-Faxer or No-Faxer? Here is a link to cast your vote: http://polls.linkedin.com/p/68046/gomjm Or you can fax me 859-885-6619
Founded in 1987, Multi-Link, Inc. is a Kentucky-based manufacturer dedicated to the development and marketing of high quality telecommunications devices, including remote power management and fax phone switch devices, for a wide variety of commercial and government applications. As the premier company in telephone line sharing products, thousands of companies utilize Multi-Link devices to reduce their telecommunications cost through more efficient use of phone lines. Many of our customers have achieved millions of dollars in telecommunication costs savings and most customers achieve their ROI in less than 90 days.
Multi-Link products are American-made , have a proven track record of 99% reliability and come with outstanding customer service and technical support.
Reduce your installation costs for remote sites securely and quickly with the ZipLink Wireless 5.8GHz Ethernet radio, POTS Phone Line & Ethernet Extender.
ZipLink is a fast, affordable alternative to trenching phone cables through impassable terrain or across parking lots, streets, or concrete aprons. A typical trenching job would cost $3,500 to get started and average $200/hr in operations costs thereafter. At a fraction of the cost, the ZipLink could be installed and running in few hours.
Easy Installation:
- Complete, pre-configured working system in one box. Extend One or Two POTS lines, with Ethernet, up to one mile.
- Diagnostic program available for determining signal strength
- All installation hardware is included with the ZipLink
- No license required
ZipLink — when wires won’t work!
For more information, contact a Multi-Link sales representative at 800-535-4651 or sales@multi-link.net