Luxurious partnership for Honeywell

In this economic downturn, many security companies have bemoaned the fact that new housing starts are down. But Honeywell has formed a new partnership with Toll Brothers, a nationwide builder of luxury homes, that gives Honeywell an exclusive way to tap into the new construction market's lucrative side.

Here's more from the news release that Melville, N.Y.-based Honeywell issued today:

Honeywell has reached an exclusive agreement with Toll Brothers, America's Luxury Homebuilder, to provide its broad portfolio of security technology for most of its newly constructed homes. Toll Brothers, currently building in 19 states, offers security systems in most of its new homes. The company will include Honeywell's widely used VISTA alarm panels, and will offer its line of alarm radios and Total Connect 2.0 technology, which allows homeowners to remotely monitor and control their security systems with mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets.

“Homeowners today want more than just a security system that is proven and reliable. They want options, security without phone lines or security with remote capabilities and integration. Honeywell is a good fit for us because it has been a mainstay in home security, so we know we're offering a product that will be extremely reliable and will offer great value,” said Felicia Ratka, president of Westminster Security, a wholly owned subsidiary of Toll Brothers, Inc., that provides UL-listed central station monitoring to Toll Brothers' home buyers across the country. “Honeywell also has great technology and services such as Total Connect, which provide much more than just security. That's a key selling point for today's home buyer.”

In recent years, Honeywell's home security portfolio has focused on creating “the connected home.” Technologies such as VISTA and Total Connect have been designed to keep people connected with their homes at all times. For example, homeowners can control and manage their security systems through web-enabled devices, and alarm panels can be integrated with other home systems such as air conditioning and lighting, which can contribute to energy savings. This is illustrated through capabilities such as alarm systems being able to set back thermostats, which will help to further enhance Toll Brothers' continuing commitment to green initiatives.

“A new Honeywell security system is the first step toward a truly connected home,” said Bob Shipman, director of sales, Eastern Region, for Honeywell Security & Communications. “When thinking about a home security system, the question to ask is, 'What would you want your home to tell you if it could talk?' That's the main driver behind Honeywell's security technology, and Toll Brothers shares that vision for its customers.”