Archive: May 2008
iControl on the iPhone-embrace the little "i"
May 29, 2008Daniel Gelinas
So i hear a good amount about remote monitoring in the security industry and i've seen plenty of demonstrations that should make me a believer, yet some doubt remains that the residential market will embrace it. However, yesterday i spoke with Paul Dawes, the CEO of iControl, about being selected as one of only two companies that have been publicly announced (out of a reported 1,700 who submitted applications) to develop an application function for Apple's iPhone. That means people with iPhones can...
ADI expands demo program to 50 branches
May 28, 2008SSN Staff
MELVILLE, N.Y.--ADI, a global wholesale distributor of security and low-voltage products, announced May 28 the expansion of its A/V Branch Demo Program to include 50 branches, nearly half of its total North American branches. The A/V Demo Program equips individual ADI branches with solutions from participating vendors, allowing dealers to test and investigate technology and solution options.
"With the growth of the A/V industry, it is important for dealers to remain ahead of the curve on the latest...
Monitronics deploys Verint software for operator management
May 28, 2008Leischen Stelter
DALLAS--Monitronics, a large provider of residential alarm monitoring, on May 23 announced the deployment of Verint Systems' Impact 360 Workforce Management solution software to measure, monitor and manage the performance of central station operators. "The software allows us to look at the flow in the call center and schedule agents based on real-time data," said John Mejia, vice president of customer care for Monitronics. "It allows me to sit down with managers and properly manage phones by looking...
Cooper Notification launches emergency notification at 17 Va. colleges
May 28, 2008SSN Staff
ARLINGTON, Va.--Cooper Notification on May 22 announced that 17 additional Virginia Community College System Colleges have launched its Roam Security Alert Network (RSAN) emergency notification system.
These colleges join Northern Virginia Community College, which launched its RSAN system in August 2007.
Parents, friends and alumni can now sign up for alerts at individual university Web sites. The Web-based RSAN system can deliver more than 18,000 real time messages per minute via email, pager, cellphone,...
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
Which would you rather have? Titan or Tootsie
May 27, 2008Tess Nacelewicz
The UK-based Daily Mail Reporter reported yesterday that the new line in home security is this £65,000 Titan guard dog.
The story says an American, Simon Brodie, came up with the idea of marketing these dogs. They're reared in Germany where they get special two-year "Schutzhund" training. They're supposed to be super intelligent and this Schutzhund training teaches them to "track and trap intruders until police arrive, protecting families and their homes to the hilt."
You can pick up a standard...
Video: Bringing us together
May 27, 2008Daniel Gelinas
Video just keeps getting cooler. Here's an article about a digital surveillance company called ICOP that just released a product called ICOP LIVE, which pushes live video streams to responder vehicles and/or to any authorized viewer "without special viewing software."
I have a couple calls out and I'm still not sure whether or not this company works with private security companies/monitoring stations, but it seems like a useful technology to incorporate into the security world. I realize that video...
The security is out again.
May 23, 2008Daniel Gelinas
I had a conversation yesterday with Jeff Crews from 4HomeMedia (a software company) who is also a member of the Z-Wave Alliance (members of this Alliance all incorporate Z-Wave wirelessly technology into their products so they can "talk" to each other). Earlier this week, the alliance demonstrated a security solution for major cable providers at The Cable Show in New Orleans as an option for cable companies to offer a security component to their customers.
It made me wonder if cable companies would...
Stanley to buy RFID-system developer Xmark
May 22, 2008L. Samuel Pfeifle
NEW BRITAIN, Conn.--The Stanley Works announced this week an agreement to buy Xmark, a subsidiary of VeriChip, which manufacturers RFID-based systems used to identify, locate and protect people and assets. Its brands include Hugs and Halos, which track infants; RoamAlert, a wander protection system; and Assetrac, a hospital asset tracking system.
Stanley will purchase all outstanding shares of Xmark for a total of $45 million.
Greg Waybright, interim vice president of investor relations, said Xmark...
Guardian acquires remainder of Ranger American, raises profile in Phoenix
May 22, 2008Martha Entwistle
WARRENDALE, Pa.--Super regional alarm firm Guardian Protection has moved into Texas for the first time and increased its density in Charlotte, N.C., Indianapolis and Phoenix with the May 16 acquisition of all of Ranger American's operations.
Guardian CEO Russ Cersosimo told Security Systems News on May 21 that he'd been on the road for the past week visiting all of the six new offices. The deal "brings 600 employees and 15,000 roof tops per year," Cersosimo said.
Last fall, Guardian acquired Ranger's...
Cisco signs 10-year deal with Harrah's for security and more
May 22, 2008L. Samuel Pfeifle
SAN JOSE, Calif.--Cisco announced this week a 10-year strategic agreement with Harrah's Entertainment to upgrade their management, guest services and security systems through the use of IP technology. The Cisco Physical Security business unit will work with Harrah's on a "transformation of the company's digital backbone and the implementation of a next-generation security and surveillance infrastructure."
According to Steve Collen, director of business development for Cisco Physical Security, Cisco...