Archive: October 2012
Pinnacle sells 93,000 accounts to Monitronics
October 31, 2012Tess Nacelewicz
OREM, Utah—Pinnacle Security, a leading summer-sales-model company based here, recently announced an alliance with Monitronics International in which Pinnacle has sold Monitronics about 93,000 accounts and made an agreement for future account sales. The accounts represent $4.4 million of gross RMR, according to a news release.
According to Pinnacle, the $131 million transaction, which closed last week, “reduces debt and accelerates sales and marketing initiatives.”
The accounts...
FLIR buys Lorex for $59 million
October 31, 2012Martha Entwistle
WILSONVILLE, Ore.—With a plan to make thermal technology ubiquitous in enterprise and consumer-grade cameras, FLIR Systems on Oct. 25 agreed to pay $59 million to acquire Lorex Technology, a Toronto-based video surveillance provider.“We believe as the cost comes down, the value proposition offered by thermal technology is something that every security camera owner will be interested in,” Andy Teich, president of FLIR's commercial systems division, told Security Systems News.Lorex...
Top eBay security specialist, other experts to present at TechSec Solutions 2013
October 31, 2012Amy Canfield
YARMOUTH, Maine—Organizers of TechSec Solutions 2013 have announced the educational program for the conference, which will take place Feb. 5-6 at the Westin in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Focusing on new and emerging technology in the physical security industry, the program includes educational sessions such as what's next with near field communication, deconstructing PSIM, and a debate on whether you should BYOD for security, said Martha Entwistle, editor of Security Systems News and executive...
Certified Alarms launches wholesale monitoring company
October 31, 2012Rich Miller
DENHAM SPRINGS, La.—Certified Alarms, a 22-year-old security integration company based here, has stepped into the wholesale monitoring market by launching a new company with a new central station.The new company, Global Monitoring Solutions, formally opened for business Monday when its 8,000-square-foot central station went on line. The company was UL listed last week and is in the process of obtaining Five Diamond certification from the Central Station Alarm Association, according to GMS President...
Loud Security acquires, gets new office, teams up with builders
October 31, 2012Tess Nacelewicz
KENNESAW, Ga.—In the past 30 days, Loud Security has closed on three local acquisitions, moved to a new corporate office almost three times the size of its old one, and signed new contracts with national homebuilders who expect to do nearly 3,000 closings during the next year.
John Loud, owner and president of the company, which is still based here, said signing contracts with the seven builders is particularly “exciting news” because only one of the builders is requiring Loud...
Judge dismisses all claims in Dice v. Bold
October 31, 2012Rich Miller
BAY CITY, Mich.—A federal judge has dismissed all of Dice Corp.'s claims in its intellectual property lawsuit against Bold Technologies, stating that Dice's case was based on “conclusory assertions, not evidence.”Dice, a Michigan-based provider of central station automation platforms, filed suit against Bold in August 2011. Dice claimed that its Colorado-based competitor unlawfully accessed Dice's servers and stole its proprietary software. Bold denied the claims, calling the lawsuit...
Carter Brothers to build new security business with new partner
October 31, 2012Martha Entwistle
ATLANTA—Now that he's sold his fire business to Tyco, John Carter, president of Carter Brothers, plans to partner with a large company to provide security services on a national basis.And it won't be a traditional security company, Carter told Security Systems News. Carter Brothers is eager to partner with one of the new entrants in the security industry, a telecom or cableco, he said.Carter is in the process of finalizing a deal, so details will be forthcoming within the month.Tyco Integrated...
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
NFPA's annual conference to colocate with new expo
October 31, 2012Tess Nacelewicz
The National Fire Protection Association Conference & Expo will be held in Chicago in 2013, from June 10 through 12.
And the NFPA just announced that it will be colocating the annual event with a brand new expo, one featuring information and products designed to improve safety for people with disabilities. For a conference that's all about how to save lives, it sounds like a great match. Here's more from an NFPA press release on the event, to be held at Chicago's McCormick Place:
The...
Riders on the storm: Central stations take Sandy in stride
October 31, 2012Rich Miller
The snowy remnants of Hurricane Sandy are still blowing across the ridges of West Virginia, but the worst is over for the Eastern Seaboard. Now the recovery begins. And as is the case with any natural disaster, preparation holds the key to the extent of the difficulties ahead.
The lesson—one that's often learned the hard way—is that it pays to do your homework and have a backup plan in place. The monitoring industry prides itself on that, of course, a fact that was validated by a quick...
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
Illinois fines Pinnacle $1m for alleged deceptive sales practices
October 31, 2012Tess Nacelewicz
I just learned today that summer-sales-model company Pinnacle Security has agreed to pay a $1 million fine in a long-term settlement to the state of Illinois for such alleged violations as “slamming” customers and even hiring felons as sales reps.
In reaching the agreement, Pinnacle neither admitted nor denied the allegations. And the company sent me the following statement:
Pinnacle Security is pleased that it has come to a settlement with the Department of Financial and Professional...