Archive: January 2007
FCC considers AMPS sunset extension
January 25, 2007Martha Entwistle
WASHINGTON--Alarm industry advocates are eagerly awaiting word from the Federal Communications Commission about whether the regulatory agency will agree to extend the AMPS sunset beyond the February 2008 deadline.
The good news for the alarm industry is that the FCC is considering the request, something that was not a guarantee when ADT and the Alarm Industry Communications Committee on Oct. 4, 2006, asked for the extension.
Over the past three months, representatives from ADT and the alarm industry...
Criticom leases new space in So. Cal.
January 25, 2007SSN Staff
MANASQUAN, N.J.--Criticom International, a division of Integrated Alarm Services Group until an expected merger with Protection One is completed, announced on Jan. 19 that it has leased new space for secure office property in Cypress, Calif. Criticom anticipates occupying the new facility by the end of the second quarter after leasehold agreements are completed and central station infrastructure has been put into place.
Criticom management could not be reached for comment.
The new Cypress central...
Mace offered $46 million buyout by Kelly Capital
January 25, 2007L. Samuel Pfeifle
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--Mace Security International, a manufacturer of personal-defense products and professional electronic security products, announced with an SEC filing Jan. 18 that Kelly Capital, an investment firm controlling $500 million in annual revenues, has offered to purchase all outstanding shares at $3 per share. This represents a total offer of roughly $46 million. In the filing, Mace said its board of directors is reviewing the offer and will respond, but offered no timeline for a...
Sensaphone sticks with telephone in remote monitoring system
January 25, 2007SSN Staff
ASTON, Pa.--Sensaphone, a Pennsylvania company that manufactures products which monitor homes and buildings remotely, announced it has upgraded its product line with the addition of the Sensaphone 400.
Vice president of sales Bob Douglass said, "A lot of security systems are on the marketplace today. What's different is that we're doing more than just security. Sensaphone protects the whole home." The new upgrade includes temperature and power-failure monitoring, with optional sensors for detecting...
Bioscrypt merges with A4Vision to add 3D facial ID
January 25, 2007L. Samuel Pfeifle
TORONTO--Bioscrypt, an enterprise-level access control manufacturer, announced this week an agreement to acquire A4Vision, a manufacturer of 3D facial imaging identification systems. A4 stockholders will receive nine million shares of Bioscrypt, which closed at $.98 on the day of the announcement. In addition, investors associated with A4, including Menlo Ventures, In-Q-Tel and Motorola Ventures, agreed to invest between $6 million and $8 million in newly issued Bioscrypt common shares and warrants...
Ohio congresswoman reintroduces fire legislation
January 25, 2007Martha Entwistle
WASHINGTON--Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) is hopeful that fire-safety legislation she reintroduced on Jan. 23 will receive favorable attention from the new Congress.
"Every time we introduce it, it gets more interest. When it gets to be the third or fourth time, we start to get more traction," said Nicole Williams, communications director for Tubbs Jones.
The congresswoman reintroduced three pieces of legislation. Two will need approval by both houses of Congress before becoming law. The College...
Kastle sold to investor Mark Ein
January 18, 2007L. Samuel Pfeifle
WASHINGTON--After only two months of negotiations, Mark Ein, a venture capitalist and former principal of the Carlyle Group, has purchased Kastle Systems International, which installs and manages security systems for multi-tenant commercial office buildings. Terms of the deal were not released.
Kastle, based here with satellite offices in New York, LA, Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Sydney, Australia, was founded in 1972 by A. Gene Samburg, who will continue as chief executive officer....
Condortech will help PSA companies secure gov't biz
January 18, 2007SSN Staff
WESTMINSTER, Colo.--PSA Security Network members will have a leg up in securing government contract work thanks to an agreement announced Jan.17 between PSA and member company Condortech Services of Alexandria, Va.
"CTS will team with other PSA members to compete for contracts that were previously unattainable and to create more opportunities for them in the government security market," according to a PSA news release.
Under the agreement, which coincides with the Department of Homeland Security's...
Washington Alarm Earns Five-Diamond Certification
January 18, 2007SSN Staff
SEATTLE--Washington Alarm, a full-service alarm company in the Pacific Northwest, was awarded Five Diamond Certification by the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA). To achieve Five Diamond Certification, every Washington Alarm operator had to pass the Level 1 training course and had to demonstrate proficiency in alarm verification, communications with the Public Service Answering Points (such as Emergency 911 service), emergency preparedness, knowledge of electronic communications equipment...
N.J. requires sprinklers in nursing homes
January 18, 2007Martha Entwistle
TRENTON, N.J.-- Nursing home owners in New Jersey will have three years from January to install a sprinkler system as the result of a new rule, announced Jan. 3 by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
This rule supercedes a previous code that excluded nursing homes constructed of noncombustible materials from sprinkler requirements.
"A couple of years ago there were fatal fires in Hartford, Conn., and Nashville, Tenn., and those homes were constructed out of noncombustible materials,"...