SentryCom dealer program aimed at burgeoning interactive market

VALENCIA, Calif. - SentryCom’s authorized dealer program, unveiled in mid-April, allows dealers to participate in 20 percent of the recurring revenue on the lifetime of the contract,100 percent of whatever amount of value-added increase they place on the contract, as well as all equipment and installation fees. “Our dealers are our partners,” said Chief Executive Officer Kurt Strasser. “We don’t get involved in installation fees; we’re a value-added service.” While SentryCom’s dealer program requires exclusivity related to video monitoring, Strasser said dealers that offer residential service can use whatever program works best for them. In addition to the initial dealer group, most of whom found out about SentryCom through the manufacturers with which it is working, Strasser said he had at press time about 30 applications in process and another 100 inquiries to handle. The company is launching a more active marketing campaign via its web site and advertising. He predicted SentryCom would be handling between 7,000 and 10,000 accounts within the first 12 to 18 months, with the capability of handling 10,000 to 30,000 accounts, depending on the services mix. Dispatchers, he noted, receive at least six months of training, making them capable of handling any type of monitoring. He said IT and systems players are now entering the security market. “They handle network security and wiring and they are familiar with DVR systems. It makes sense for them to add security.”