Archive: March 2010
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
More on the Security 5K
March 31, 2010Tess Nacelewicz
We've had tons of feedback on last week's Security 5K and I thought you might like to see a couple of photos. Below is Pinnacle Security president Kelly Walker getting bested by his wife, Lori, by one second. Lori came in first in the women's 30-and-under age division. [caption id="attachment_2637" align="alignright" width="600" caption="Crossing the blue finish line, Lori Walker and one second behind, Kelly Walker"][/caption] Team spirit was strong at the race. I saw a group of Broadview Security...
Verify or pay: Municipality shifts false alarm fines to alarm companies
March 31, 2010Daniel Gelinas
I'm currently working on a few different stories that all have to do with verification. I'm speaking with COPS' own superstar Maria Malice who is the president of the AzAA. They're currently attempting to work with the town of Goodyear Arizona to come up with a solution to the false alarm problem they're facing other than non response unless the alarm is verified. I spoke with Goodyear PD chief Mark Brown as well. He told me that Goodyear was only the first of least 10 other Greater Phoenix municipalities...
Is Bosch buying Arecont Vision?
March 30, 2010Martha Entwistle
Let me start this blog post by saying I'm addressing a rumor without trying to perpetuate it. I have received more than one "tip" that Arecont Vision has been purchased by Bosch. Supposedly, this happened right before ISC West, and will be announced any day.
As a reporter, I did my due diligence. I called people at both Bosch and Arecont, whom I trust, and asked them whether there were truth to the rumors. Initially, the Bosch person claimed total ignorance, but said she would get back to me. Initially,...
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
Would you like to work in Hawaii?
March 30, 2010Tess Nacelewicz
I've never been there, but I think I might like to work there. How about you?
Like after a Nor'Easter, I'm digging out from the blizzard of information and emails accumulated at ISC West. Just came across a note I made to myself at the show when I was doing an ssnTVnews video interview with John Cannon, owner and president of Alert Alarm in Hawaii.
He's looking for a VP of sales. I told him I expected he'd probably get a few calls when the word gets out.
Tell him I sent you.
Want to do some research...
ISC West, day 3: perception and reality
March 30, 2010Martha Entwistle
Day 3 at ISC West had me thinking quite a bit about what's perception in the security industry, and what's reality; what's marketing speak dressed up as opinion, and what's opinion grounded in experience and, at least, anecdotal evidence? For example, the perception of day 3 at the show was very positive from just about everyone I spoke with. People were pleased with the crowds, and the general ebullience of the first two days carried over. There was very little of the early breakdown syndrome that...
ISC New Product Showcase winners
March 29, 2010Martha Entwistle
While I had a minute, I wanted to post the ISC West New Product Showcase winners.
Here's the press release from SIA:
LAS VEGAS - Iris on the Move from Sarnoff won the Best New Product Award at the Security Industry Association New Product Showcase on Wednesday.
Iris on the Move is an iris recognition device that can capture an iris image at a distance of as much as 10 feet while an individual is in motion and allows a throughput of as many as 30 people per minute.
I don't know - just seems kind...
Full results of Security 5k announced
March 29, 2010SSN Staff
LAS VEGAS--The results of the first annual Security 5k, held in Las Vegas last week to coincide with ISC West and to benefit the Mission 500 charity, have been announced. The event, put on in a joint effort by Reed Exhibitions (proprietors of ISC West), United Publications (publishers of Security Systems News and Security Director News), and Mission 500 (a charity dedicated to sponsoring 500 children each year through the World Vision charity), drew 307 registrations and 249 runners on race day....
Scranton to begin enforcing false alarm ordinance
March 29, 2010SSN Staff
SCRANTON, Pa.--After more than a decade of spotty enforcement, the Police Department here is cracking down on businesses and other properties where officers respond to more than three false alarms during a 12-month period, according to a March 28 story in the Scranton Times Tribune.
Violators will be assessed $50 for the fourth false alarm, $100 for the fifth and $300 for each one after that, based on a graduated service fee schedule in an ordinance approved by city council in July 2009.
Under...
ISC West day 2: on trade shows and showmanship
March 26, 2010Martha Entwistle
There is a part of me that thinks the era of the big trade show is coming to an end. Logically, it seems that the possibilities of the virtual trade show, the ease of delivery of information in this day and age, the costs of travel, and many more factors are contributing to a reduction in perceived value of everyone getting together in one geographical location to talk shop. But (and I'm not sure I saw myself ever saying this) I'd be pretty sad to see them go. My cynical side has a hard time with...
ADS acquires 500 monitored accounts from Alarm Center
March 26, 2010Daniel Gelinas
SAVANNAH, Ga.—ADS on March 19 announced it had acquired the Georgia accounts of Baton Rouge, La.-based Alarm Center Security Systems, a purchase of around 500 monitored accounts, bringing ADS' Savannah operations to over $1 million a year in RMR.
While the account acquisition—an even mix of residential and commercial—represents an RMR milestone for ADS-Savannah, it means even more to Alarm Center's Georgia customers, according to ADS-Savannah general manager Joe Antinoro. The new...