Intensive weeks and months are behind us and more challenging times are ahead of us. We hope you have all come through the Corona period - which is difficult for all of us - well and healthy.

We at Alarm IT Factory are there for you as usual! The colleagues from sales and our support teams will continue to take care of your inquiries about the Alarm Control Center (ACC) and the control technology quickly and competently. We still offer you a full range of services such as workshops, product presentations and commissioning - Corona-compliant, as remote services.

And now have fun with our current newsletter!

1. New version model
Beginning in 2020, a new version of the ACC will be available on November 1 of each year. This also results in a new versioning. The ACC V21 will now be released on November 1st, 2020. Then on November 1st, 2021 ACC V22. The version number thus corresponds to the last digits of the following year. You can see immediately whether you are working with the current version.

2. Release of the new release ACC V21 on November 1st, 2020
The countdown is running! On November 1st, 2020 we will publish our brand new release ACC V21. Be inspired by numerous new features that further improve the user-friendliness and scope of your ACC.

The new features at a glance:

  • Clear dashboard: The new start page of the ACC V21

With our new start page you have everything at a glance. A dashboard gives you a clear overview of all the important information about your ACC. The following widgets are now available for you:

    • Five archive widgets to identify relevant messages at a glance:
      • All messages
      • Open messages
      • Pending messages
      • Successful messages
      • Failed messages
    • Two chart widgets to show the amount of alerts within the last…:
      • …8 hours
      • …24 hours
    • One widget each for the status of the ACC core system and the status of the ACC's agents and channels

Widgets for system monitoring, license overview, statistical evaluations will follow in the next ACC versions.

  • Agent WinCC Unified

Would you like to connect your ACC to the new SIMATIC WinCC Unified visualization system from Siemens? No problem! With the help of the new WinCC Unified agent, messages from WinCC Unified systems can be sent very easily via the ACC to mobile end devices, e.g. B. smartphones, smart watches or pagers are sent. The reports can then be accepted and rejected on these devices. By accepting the message, it can also be acknowledged in WinCC Unified.

  • Agent OPC UA

The OPC UA agent has been expanded to include the Excel import function for the configuration. This allows you to conveniently maintain your configuration data with message texts and alarm groups in Microsoft Excel. If changes are made to the configuration data, the Excel file can simply be imported again.

  • Change log option

Even better overview: In the new change logs, you can display in detail which user has made which change to a data record. All changes can also be printed out for archiving.

  • Option Team Plan

With the new Teamdispo option, you can assign the maintenance of systems to your technicians quickly and clearly. The messages are forwarded directly to the respective technicians.

The technicians can also use the ACC app to assign systems themselves via their smartphones - without the help of an administrator. The management of a shift calendar can thus be omitted under certain circumstances.

  • New channel for smartphones and new ACC app for Android and iOS

The new smartphone channel allows you to push messages to Android devices. The new ACC App V1.2.0 for Android and iOS contains the following features:

    • You can accept or reject messages directly from the message list with a simple swipe.
    • Your attendee status can be automatically reset to present status after a configurable time interval. You get e.g. After a meeting, for example, messages are automatically sent back to your smartphone without you having to set your participant status again manually.
    • The app supports the new Teamdispo option
    • You can filter the messages in the message list according to various criteria - for even more clarity.

ACC App V1.2.0 is again available for free download from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The Android app V4.10, which you can download from our website, can still be used to receive messages via SMS and TCP.

  • Apply notifications to Apple Watch

You can now also accept or reject reports directly on your Apple Watch. So you are no longer dependent on your smartphone ... and have both hands free.

  • User interface now also in French

With the new version V21, the user interface of your ACC is now also available in French. The French documentation is in progress.

  • Compatibility of ACC V21

ACC V21 is compatible with the following systems:

    • Windows 10, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019
    • SQL Server 2014, SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2017, and SQL Server 2019

ACC V21 is deliverey with SQL Server Express 2017.

Would you like to learn more about the new features of V21? We would be happy to present them to you in a live webinar. Simply contact us at: sales@alarmcontrolcenter.de

3. Support and Upgrade Agreements
With our support and upgrade contracts, your ACC is well secured for the future! This means that your system is always technologically up to date and you benefit from the new features. The guaranteed response times of our support and the flexible on-call service guarantee you high system availability and thus safe operation of your systems. With a support and upgrade contract, you also have a plannable size for your budget. You can choose from the Advanced, Professional and Enterprise models. They differ, among other things, in the guaranteed service and response times.

4. Shutdown of the 3G network in Germany
On June 30, 2021, the 3G/UMTS network from Telekom and Vodafone in Germany will be switched off. For the time being, the 2G network will serve as a fallback solution for 3G.

Therefore, check whether you would like to exchange your possibly outdated terminal (terminal MC52i, MC55i, MC55i-W, PHS8-P or older) for a newer, 4G-capable version in the course of the shutdown.

If you have any questions regarding the shutdown and need support, we will be happy to assist you. Contact us at sales@alarmcontrolcenter.de.

5. Shutdown of the 2G network in Switzerland
Unlike in Germany, the 3G network will remain in Switzerland for the time being. However, the 2G network will be switched off there at the end of 2020. The SMS terminals TC35, TC35i, MC52i, MC55i, MC55i-W only support 2G and must therefore be replaced.

Therefore, check whether you would like to exchange your possibly outdated terminal for a newer, 4G-capable version in the course of the shutdown.

If you have any questions regarding the shutdown and need support, we will be happy to assist you. Contact us at sales@alarmcontrolcenter.de.

With best regards from Stuttgart,
Your team from the Alarm IT Factory