Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station
Wholesale UL-listed alarm monitoring central station founded in 1965 in Columbus, Georgia, serving independent security system dealers across 17 states plus DC with multi-format signal reception and the BoldNet automation platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersColumbus, georgia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station does
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station is a wholesale alarm monitoring central station founded in 1965 by Blanford H. Davenport in Columbus, Georgia. The family-owned private company is UL-listed (UUFX S2629) since 1984, FM-approved (PR467538), and licensed to operate in 17 states plus the District of Columbia. The company self-describes as "one of the largest central stations in the Southeast" and currently operates with 19 employees. Following a 1984 restructuring that exited the retail installation business, Cen-Signal focuses exclusively on third-party monitoring services for independent alarm/security system dealers.
Cen-Signal's core technology runs on the Bold Technologies BoldNet automation platform, paired with multi-format receivers supporting Surgard System 5, Bosch, DMP, and Osborne-Hoffman protocols. The station handles inbound signals across POTS, IP, cellular, two-way voice, and video verification channels, and integrates with partner platforms including Alarm.com, I-View Now, and Resideo/AlarmNet. Dealers access account information through BoldNet Mobile and the BoldNet dealer portal. The company is a member of The Monitoring Association (TMA) and relevant state alarm associations.
Cen-Signal generates revenue through recurring monthly wholesale monitoring fees billed to independent alarm dealers on a per-account subscription basis. The business model is B2B, with the company serving dealers rather than end-users directly. Operational staffing centers on Communications Dispatcher roles, for which the company has active job postings, indicating ongoing scaling of front-line signal-handling capacity.
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station
- Legal name
- Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station
- Website
- https://cen-signal.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wholesale UL-listed alarm monitoring central station founded in 1965 in Columbus, Georgia, serving independent security system dealers across 17 states plus DC with multi-format signal reception and the BoldNet automation platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Security Monitoring Services (Wholesale Central Station)
- NAICS
- Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Central Station Monitoring (Third-Party Wholesale Monitoring) (BPAKAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Commercial & Industrial Alarm Monitoring (BPAKAFAB)
Keywords
Where Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus, georgia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Wholesale Monitoring Services: Recurring monitoring fees charged to alarm dealers for receiving and processing alarm signals 24/7/365. Services include signal processing for POTS, IP, and cellular connections, with various communication options.
- Subscriber Billing Services: Billing services for dealers including invoicing customers, accepting and processing payments, providing reports, and quick payment turnaround. Supports monthly, quarterly, or annual billing cycles.
- Video Verification Services: Video verification services for jurisdictions requiring visual verification, integrating with multiple video platforms including Alarm.com, I-View Now, DMP, Videofied, CHeKT, Solink, and Envysion.
- Answering Service: Professional operator answering service relayed to dealers via text, email, or traditional phone call.
- Dealer Reports: Wide variety of emailed reports to dealers, including subscriber notification reports for alarms, troubles, or open/close signals on daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Wholesale monitoring services for alarm dealers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cen-Signal is a wholesale UL-listed and FM-approved central station that receives and processes alarm signals from alarm/security dealers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year across POTS, cellular, IP, and 2-way voice / PERS pathways. It extends this monitoring core with video verification, email/text notifications, subscriber billing, dealer answering services, and recurring dealer reporting, all delivered through the Bold Technologies Manitou automation platform and the BoldNet Mobile App / web portal.
Product overview
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station is a wholesale alarm monitoring company offering a unified platform of monitoring services founded in 1965. The core offering is Central Station Monitoring, which encompasses POTS Line Monitoring, Cellular Monitoring, and IP Monitoring as the three primary signal reception pathways supported by a multi-receiver infrastructure (Surgard System 5, Bosch, DMP, Osborne-Hoffman). This core platform is extended by add-on modules including PERS & 2-Way Voice, Video Verification, Email/Text Notification, Answering Service, Reports & Analytics, Subscriber Billing, and Caller ID Infusion. Access to dealer and subscriber accounts is provided through the BoldNet Mobile App (iOS/Android) and BoldNet Portal (web), both built on the Bold Technologies automation platform. Video Verification is powered by integrations with multiple video providers including Alarm.com, I-View Now, DMP, Videofied, Chekt, Solink, Envysion, and Rath Smart View.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wholesale Central Station Monitoring UL-listed and FM-approved wholesale alarm monitoring services for alarm/security dealers nationwide, providing 24/7/365 signal monitoring and emergency dispatch coordination across POTS, cellular, and IP-based alarm systems.
- POTS Line Monitoring Traditional phone line monitoring accepting virtually all alarm formats through Surgard System 5, Bosch, DMP, and Osborne-Hoffman receivers with built-in redundancies for signal reliability.
- Cellular Monitoring Cellular-based alarm monitoring supporting Alarm.com, Alula/IPDatatel, Connect24, DMP, M2M, Napco, Resideo/AlarmNet, SecureNet, Telguard, and Uplink for signal transmission and 2-way voice.
- Internet Protocol (IP) Monitoring IP-based monitoring service with dedicated receivers and IP line cards enabling direct communication from subscriber to central station without intermediaries, supporting Firelite, Teldat, Visor, IPDact, Silent Knight, GE/UTC/Interlogix, Bosch, DSC, DMP, and Elk formats.
- PERS & 2-Way Voice Monitoring Personal Emergency Response System monitoring with full duplex voice and listen-in capabilities for emergency units, elevators, and alarm panels, meeting jurisdictional requirements for audio verification before dispatch.
- Video Verification Service Video verification using the Bold Technologies automation platform to deliver triggered or live video clips from IP cameras and NVR systems for operator verification, supporting jurisdictions requiring visual confirmation; integrates with Alarm.com, I-View Now, DMP, Videofied, CHeKT, Solink, Envysion, and Rath Smart View.
- Subscriber Billing Service Billing management service handling invoicing, payment processing, and reporting for dealers billing subscribers on monthly, quarterly, or annual cycles.
- Dealer Answering Service Professional operator answering service relayed to dealers through text, email, or traditional phone call communication options.
- Dealer Reports Service Emailed reporting service offering a wide variety of dealer reports with optional automatic generation for subscribers on daily, weekly, or monthly basis covering alarms, troubles, and open/close signals.
- Email/Text Notification Service Automated notification service alerting customers of alarm signals, troubles, or open/close events via email or text, usable with traditional phone line accounts as well as cellular.
- BoldNet Mobile App Native mobile application for smartphone and tablet enabling dealers and subscribers to view and test accounts, with editing capabilities through PC or laptop via the BoldNet portal or third-party integrations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced liability through automatic call recording and computerized dialing
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration29 records
Feature5 records
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bold TechnologiescoreIntegration partner providing the BoldNet automation platform and mobile app used by Cen-Signal for dealer account management, signal processing, and video verification services. BoldNet Mobile app is available on iOS and Android for dealers and subscribers.
- DMP (Digital Monitoring Products)coreTechnology integration for IP and cellular alarm signal monitoring. DMP receivers and panels are supported for signal reception and processing.
- Alarm.comcoreCellular monitoring integration for alarm signals. Alarm.com provides connected security devices and Cen-Signal processes signals from Alarm.com accounts.
- Resideo/AlarmNetcoreCellular monitoring integration through AlarmNet services. Cen-Signal accepts transmissions and 2-way voice from Resideo/AlarmNet devices.
- I-View NowcoreVideo verification integration platform. I-View Now integrates security system signals, video sources, cloud applications, and IoT devices into Cen-Signal's cloud platform for visual verification and faster emergency response.
- TelguardcoreCellular monitoring integration for alarm signals. Telguard provides cellular communicators for security systems monitored by Cen-Signal.
- UplinkcoreCellular monitoring integration for alarm signals. Uplink cellular communicators are supported for signal transmission to Cen-Signal.
- Alula / IPDatatelcoreCellular monitoring integration. Alula (formerly IPDatatel) provides interactive cellular communicators integrated with Cen-Signal's monitoring platform.
- M2M ServicescoreCellular monitoring integration. M2M provides machine-to-machine cellular communication services for security systems monitored by Cen-Signal.
- NapcocoreCellular monitoring integration. Napco security panels and communicators are supported for signal monitoring.
- DSC Connect24coreCellular monitoring integration. DSC Connect24 provides cellular communication services for DSC security systems monitored by Cen-Signal.
- SecureNetcoreCellular monitoring integration. SecureNet provides cellular monitoring services integrated with Cen-Signal.
- CHeKTcoreVideo verification integration. CHeKT provides video verification technology integrated with Cen-Signal's monitoring platform.
- VideofiedcoreVideo verification integration. Videofied provides video verification devices and services integrated with Cen-Signal for visual alarm verification.
- SolinkcoreVideo verification integration. Solink provides video monitoring and verification services integrated with Cen-Signal.
- EnvysioncoreVideo verification integration. Envysion provides video verification and monitoring services integrated with Cen-Signal.
- Rath Smart ViewcoreVideo verification integration. Rath Smart View provides video monitoring and verification services integrated with Cen-Signal.
- BoschcoreSignal receiver and panel integration. Bosch receivers and security panels are supported for POTS and IP signal monitoring.
- Silent KnightcoreIP monitoring integration. Silent Knight security products are supported for IP-based alarm signal monitoring.
- GE/UTC/InterlogixcoreIP monitoring integration. GE, UTC, and Interlogix security products are supported for IP-based alarm signal monitoring.
- Osborne-HoffmancorePOTS receiver integration. Osborne-Hoffman receivers are supported for traditional phone line signal monitoring.
- TMA (The Monitoring Association)coreNational membership in The Monitoring Association, an industry organization for monitoring centers and alarm professionals.
- Georgia Integrators AssociationcoreState-level membership in Georgia Integrators Association, representing security integrators and monitoring providers in Georgia.
- Alabama Alarm AssociationminorState-level membership in Alabama Alarm Association for alarm industry representation.
- Mississippi Security AssociationminorState-level membership in Mississippi Security Association.
- ESA South CarolinaminorState-level membership in Electronic Security Association South Carolina chapter.
- Tennessee Electronic Security Association (TNESI)minorState-level membership in Tennessee Electronic Security Association.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- COPS Monitoring: COPS Monitoring is one of the largest wholesale central station providers in the US, offering UL-listed 24/7 alarm monitoring to thousands of independent alarm dealers nationwide. Like Cen-Signal, it sells exclusively to dealers on a recurring-fee basis and supports multiple signal formats.
- Rapid Response Monitoring: Rapid Response Monitoring is a large UL-listed wholesale central station serving independent alarm dealers across the US and Canada. It competes with Cen-Signal for the same B2B dealer book and offers comparable multi-format monitoring, video verification, and dealer services.
- National Monitoring Center (NMC): NMC is a nationwide wholesale monitoring central station serving alarm dealers and integrators with UL-listed signal monitoring and dealer support tools. It directly competes with Cen-Signal for dealer relationships and recurring monitoring revenue.
- Affiliated Monitoring: Affiliated Monitoring is a wholesale central station focused on independent alarm dealers, providing UL-listed 24/7 alarm monitoring, video verification, and dealer services. It is a like-sized or slightly larger direct competitor to Cen-Signal in the dealer-channel segment.
- AvantGuard Monitoring Centers: AvantGuard is a wholesale-only central station operator with multiple US facilities, focused on alarm dealers and security integrators. Like Cen-Signal, it provides UL-listed wholesale monitoring, managed video verification, and dealer support services.
Broad incumbents
- ADT Commercial: ADT Commercial is a large-scale security and monitoring provider with proprietary central stations and a national footprint. It is not a wholesale-only peer but represents a broader incumbent that competes for the same end-customer monitoring wallet in Cen-Signal's footprint.
- Brinks Home (Monitronics/Vector Security): Brinks Home is a major national residential and commercial security provider with its own central station monitoring operations. While it primarily serves end customers rather than dealers, it competes indirectly for monitoring share and dealer mindshare in overlapping service areas.
Others
- SDI (System Development Integration) / Security Dealer Network Operators: Central station automation integrators and security dealer network operators form the broader ecosystem that feeds wholesale monitoring providers. SDI and similar firms represent enablers/customers in the channel rather than direct central station competitors.
- Bold Technologies: Bold Technologies is the automation platform vendor behind Cen-Signal's Manitou/BoldNet central station software and mobile app. While not a competitor, it is a key infrastructure provider whose product roadmap and pricing directly affect Cen-Signal's cost structure and feature parity.
Regional players
- Guardian Protection Services: Guardian Protection is a regional security and monitoring provider with its own central station, primarily serving the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest US. It overlaps with Cen-Signal in alarm monitoring capability and alarm-and-emergency dispatch services, though it operates a more geographically concentrated territory.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station social profiles
Digital presenceCen-Signal UL Automated Central Station compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station
What does Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station do?
Cen-Signal is a wholesale UL-listed and FM-approved central station that receives and processes alarm signals from alarm/security dealers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year across POTS, cellular, IP, and 2-way voice / PERS pathways. It extends this monitoring core with video verification, email/text notifications, subscriber billing, dealer answering services, and recurring dealer reporting, all delivered through the Bold Technologies Manitou automation platform and the BoldNet Mobile App / web portal.
Is Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station a public or private company?
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station founded?
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station was founded in 1965. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station based?
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station is headquartered in Columbus, georgia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Wholesale Monitoring Services are the primary driver. The others are subscriber Billing Services, video Verification Services, answering Service and dealer Reports.
Who are Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are COPS Monitoring, Rapid Response Monitoring, National Monitoring Center (NMC), Affiliated Monitoring and AvantGuard Monitoring Centers. Broad incumbents are ADT Commercial and Brinks Home (Monitronics/Vector Security). Others are SDI (System Development Integration) / Security Dealer Network Operators and Bold Technologies. Guardian Protection Services is listed as a regional player.
Does Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station.
What industry is Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station in?
Cen-Signal UL Automated Central Station's product category is Security Monitoring Services (Wholesale Central Station). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKAFAI, Central Station Monitoring (Third-Party Wholesale Monitoring), with a secondary code of BPAKAFAB, Commercial & Industrial Alarm Monitoring. Its NAICS code is 561621.