Sun shines on ASIS

SAN DIEGO, Calif.--Perfect 70-degree temperatures and happening, uncrowded city streets greeted attendees and exhibitors as this week's 52nd annual ASIS International opened on Monday. "It's just after high tourist season, the time of year many San Diego natives wait for all year," said ASIS exhibitor and San Diego resident Jim Miller, CEO of ImageWare Systems, a developer and provider of identity management solutions. And the ASIS show is the event many in the security system wait for all year. The landscape of this year's show floor looked much like last year's Orlando show. Low-voltage electronics provider Altronix and access control company Brivo were sporting their slick red-and-white booths, while HSM this year opted for a 1950s diner theme. HSM's president Tim Whall and sales director Tony Byerly conducted customer meetings in diner booths alongside a vintage automobile. John Koch, ADT's chief operating officer, on Tuesday said the foot traffic through their booth was heavy both days. Steady traffic was observed through the two-story booth of another residential security giant, Protection One, as well. Cameras abounded, and video analytics companies proliferate more and more every year, observed Bill Stuntz, chief executive at network video systems company Broadware. The creep of IT onto the show floor was visible everywhere. Cisco, which entered the security market earlier this year with the purchase of Sypixx, this week announced a technical collaboration with ASSA ABBLOY (see related story as part of this week's newswire) and two other partner programs designed to speed up the development and adoption of security solutions that run over IP networks. It had a small booth on the floor, but a definite presence at the show. Cisco executives Mark Farino and Steve Collen were busy off the show floor with meetings, briefings and demos. Look for a bigger presence from Cisco on and off the show floors in the coming months, Farino said.