An alarm transmission system and method for summoning assistance in response to a problematic situation, with police, consumer and helper versions. In all versions, a fast data transmission mobile phone is carried by a user, which is capable of transmitting real-time on-site video images (a video call) to a server. In the police version and helper version, the real-time on-site video images are transmitted to a monitoring device, which may cause transmission of the real-time on-site video images to a rescuer communication device or otherwise take action in response to the video transmissions. In the consumer version, the user of the phone will communicate with an inter-active voice response system, which may trigger transmission of the real-time on-site video images to a rescuer communication device. In all cases above, the video calls are recorded live. An innovative testing system is constructed to measure the delay at the video call.