NEW NATIONAL PROVIDER: Verizon Launches Monitoring & Home Control Offering
Smith & Wesson’s Perimeter Security Business a ‘Discontinued Operation’ to be Sold
Stanley CSS Brings out New Cloud Services & Mobile Applications
Micro Key Solutions Announces Two Key Personnel Promotions
Tri-Ed/Northern Video Distribution Acquires VSS
Four More Companies Are Approved for IQ Recertification
Security Dealer Partners To Offer Identity Theft Protection
Select Security Expands Westward
IMS Names Leader in Open Platform IP Video Management for 7th Year in a Row
Janus Elevator Products Spins off Monitor Controls
Thwarted Thieves Did Not Have Time to Smell the Roses
NTC Opens Conference to U.S. Troops
SentryNet Plans Move to Memphis
Wire and Cable Distributor Celebrates 35th Anniversary
Vector New National Service Center Becomes Home of National Accounts Division
New Developer Network for PSIM Platform
BICSI & PSA Partner to Promote Training
2010 Monitoring Type by % of Accounts
ASI Rebrands as MSA Systems Integration
Israeli OCR Manufacturer Opens U.S. Subsidiary
NEW NATIONAL PROVIDER: Verizon Launches Monitoring & Home Control Offering
Verizon’s new Home Monitoring and Control service is being touted by the company as the gateway to a smart home that puts technology in the hands of customers, freeing them to access and control their homes from anywhere.
The service was tested in the state of New Jersey this year and is now ready to be offered to all of Verizon’s FiOS and DSL customers.
The service is focused on customer-monitoring of homes, control of locks, lights, thermostats, appliances and energy use — via a smart phone, PC, FiOS TV and, eventually, a connected tablet. Verizon’s service is strictly designed for self-monitoring and Alberto Canal, director of media relations, told SDM they have nothing to announce yet in regards to third-party central stations.
“Making the smart home a reality is another way Verizon is breaking down barriers between ‘home’ and ‘away’ to support a borderless lifestyle,” said Eric Bruno, vice president of product management for Verizon, in a prepared statement. “In addition, we’re giving our customers the tools to live greener lives and provide valuable information essential to making decisions about their home-energy usage.”
The system installation is advertised as a do-it-yourself solution, with the company providing tutorials and information for installation. However, Verizon does offer the option to have professional installers assist. “We always had a plan of partnering with somebody that could connect to a local installer so that we could serve both the DIY customers and those who want the white glove treatment,” Canal said. In the end, Verizon partnered with InstallerNet, a technology and service company based in North Andover, Mass. that specializes in merchandising and coordinating consumer electronics installation services through a network of independently owned mobile and home electronics installers. If customers don’t want to install the system themselves, Verizon will connect them with Installer Net to find a local installer that can do the job.
Currently, customers can choose from three starter product packages ranging from bare basics to a more comprehensive system. The kits are customizable and customers can add devices “as it suits them,” Canal said. “We’ve tried to make the service as customizable as possible from the installation perspective all the way down to the devices.”
The first package, a home monitoring kit beginning at $69.99, has capabilities for turning lights on and off and accessing networked cameras. The second package, an energy control kit, features energy-monitoring gadgets like the Trane Z wave-enabled thermostat control; special adapters that control appliances; plus a sensor placed on the circuit box to measure electricity use throughout the house. The third package, the home monitoring and control kit, offers both home and energy-monitoring equipment. There are additional devices like Schlage door locks for remote locking and unlocking of doors, PTZ cameras, and window and door sensors to pair with light modules. These and other devices can be added to any of the packages, but the monthly service charge of $9.99 remains the same no matter what package a customer chooses or how many devices are added.
To provide the new service, Verizon is partnering with hardware providers ActionTec, Aeon Labs and SerComm, as well as Trane and Schlage, both businesses of Ingersoll Rand. Application provider Motorola Mobility/4Home developed the platform that connects various devices in the home to the cloud.
Though Verizon does have a sizeable enterprise division, the service is only offered to residential customers. As to what makes this a unique offering for homeowners, Canal noted that the infrastructure in place for Verizon’s FiOS customers makes the addition of monitoring and control features affordable and convenient. “We’re the only company to run fiberoptics through a customer’s home on a mass scale. In a multi-device home, the value of that underlying network is all the more valuable.”
Development of the service will continue at Verizon. “The beauty of this service is it frees a lot of opportunities for value-adds. We are looking for a variety of opportunities down the road,” Canal commented.
“In our U.S. consumer survey, home monitoring and home control services rank high in desirability among both broadband and mobile users,” said Vince Vittore, principal analyst for the Yankee Group. “So high, in fact, that we believe both have become must-have services for all broadband and mobile providers. The fact that Verizon Home Monitoring and Control is built to seamlessly function on the customer’s computer, smartphone and FiOS TV screen, is a significant differentiating factor for this new digital home product.” — By Sabrina Gasulla, Associate Editor.
Avigilon Corporation, Vancouver, filed a preliminary prospectus in each of the provinces of Canada in connection with a proposed initial public offering of its common shares. The IPO will be underwritten by a syndicate of underwriters led by Raymond James Ltd. and including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and GMP Securities L.P. Pricing of the offering will be determined in the context of the market prior to the filing of a (final) prospectus in respect of the offering, the company stated. A copy of the preliminary prospectus was filed on SEDAR and is available for review a www.sedar.com.
Smith & Wesson’s Perimeter Security Business a ‘Discontinued Operation’ to be Sold
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation announced that the company made the decision to divest its perimeter security business in order to focus on its core firearm business, also pointing out “significantly reduced government spending” and a “deteriorated” environment in the space as contributing factors. The company is currently exploring strategic alternatives to accomplish the divestiture.
Smith & Wesson president and chief executive officer James Debney said, “The decision to divest the security solutions division and focus our financial, managerial, and operational resources toward expanding our presence across our firearm market channels is intended to support our long-term growth opportunities and enhance stockholder value.”
Smith & Wesson’s core firearm business accounted for 92.5 percent of its revenue in the first quarter of its 2012 fiscal year. Smith & Wesson’s firearm customers include retail consumers in the U.S. market, as well as professionals from law enforcement, government, international and military markets. In its most recent quarter, Smith & Wesson reported year-over-year firearm revenue growth of 18.0 percent and firearm unit growth of over 44.4 percent.
Debney concluded, “Since our acquisition of Nashville-based Universal Safety Response (later renamed Smith & Wesson Security Solutions), the environment for the perimeter security business has deteriorated substantially as a result of significantly reduced government spending. However, Security Solutions has a strong management team and employee base, as well as a number of positive assets and opportunities. Its current product portfolio contains a number of highly regarded proprietary technologies, including the GRAB®300, GRAB®400, and XMB™ active barriers. In addition, Smith & Wesson Security Solutions has developed a track record of customer support and system expertise across a diverse corporate and government customer base. We believe its strengths could be better maximized as an independent company, or as part of a group of companies, focused entirely on the security solutions market.”
Jeffrey Buchanan, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, said, “While we explore divestiture options, we will continue to operate Smith & Wesson Security Solutions and offer our high level of support to our customers. Beginning with the second quarter of fiscal 2012, ending Oct. 31, 2011, the division will be reported under generally accepted accounting principles as a discontinued operation in our financial reports. As such, the financial results of Smith & Wesson Security Solutions will not be included in the financial results of continuing operations of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation. Prior results will be restated to reflect this change.”
Stanley CSS Brings out New Cloud Services & Mobile Applications
Stanley Convergent Security Solutions Inc. (Stanley CSS), Naperville, Ill., launched a new line of cloud services and mobile applications. The new offerings include eVideo Cloud Storage, Web-based time and attendance; smart phone security alarm control, in-motion iris biometrics and dynamic enhancements to Stanley’s eServices eExecutive Dashboard and eServices Mobile Apps — all were unveiled at ASIS International 2011 in Orlando.
“With the debut of these new products and enhancements, Stanley CSS is definitely strengthening its technology leadership position in the security industry,” said Felix Gonzales, Stanley CSS vice president Strategic Initiatives. “‘Revolutionary’ is a word that’s used frequently in business, yet for everything Stanley CSS is doing and has been moving toward throughout the year, revolutionary is absolutely the right description. We are showcasing our advanced technology throughout the duration of ASIS and beyond.”
Using the latest in cloud storage technology, supplied in collaboration with EMC Corp., customers can have secure, convenient and cost-effective cloud storage solutions and the option of affordable, high-resolution local storage with the latest in network attached storage (NAS) technology. The service provides world-class enterprise-level storage and affordable local storage options, Stanley CSS said.
Customers are able to mix and match storage options, upgrade their video-hosting technologies and access all their video storage 24/7 anytime, anywhere online. According to the company, implementing the eVideo Cloud Storage solution eliminates unnecessary costs involved with on-site storage of video information.
eAttendanceManager offers a Web-based time and attendance solution for day-to-day business functionality. The solution uses secure Web technology to allow for real-time communication between employees and human resources wherever they have access to the Internet. With this anytime, anywhere functionality, employees can make requests for absences, vacations and schedule changes from an IP-based terminal or anywhere online. Stanley eAttendanceManager can streamline routine workforce management tasks, reduce absenteeism and save companies time and money.
The eAlarmManager service allows subscribers the ability to control their security systems, while on-the-go or online. Customers can easily and quickly arm or disarm the system, bypass and force arm, know the system status and more. eAlarmManager uses IP and GSM technology and can be used via Stanley’s online eServices and Mobile Apps at anytime from anywhere.
Using Stanley’s eInform, customers receive real-time information updates, whether at work, at home or on the go. At ASIS, Stanley introduced Service En Route, a key component of its eInform services.
The eInform service notifies customers via e-mail when the service call is scheduled, allowing customers to schedule their work day. The customer is further notified when the service technician is en route, providing critical information including GPS location of the technician, estimated time of arrival, name, photo and qualifications of the technician as well as details of the service request.
Stanley CSS is also introducing an affordable iris biometric solution, the Hoyos EyeSwipe® Nano. “The Nano offers all the features of the best-in-class EyeSwipe product line at a price point that allows it to be implemented at every door in a facility, including outdoor use,” said Lance Holloway, director technology strategy for Stanley CSS.
Micro Key Solutions Announces Two Key Personnel Promotions
Micro Key Solutions, Kissimmee, Fla., a provider of software solutions for the security alarm industry, announced that Victoria Ferro was promoted to president and that Wayne Torrens, past president, will be taking on the role of chief executive officer.
Micro Key made the announcement live through its new webcam on Oct. 14. Torrens stated that, “Victoria Ferro has been running the company these last few months and has shown that she is more than capable of meeting this new challenge. She has exhibited the passion and desire to grow this company while displaying her innate ability to work as a team leader, and is someone with creative ideas for taking this company to the next level while continuing to meet the needs of the industry.”
Torrens then explained, “I am going to remain with the company as chief executive officer overseeing our growth and working with our customers to come up with new applications, software enhancements and features to ensure we continue to meet the needs of the industry. I started this company with a vision and a view into the future and, in this new capacity, will continue to look into the future to address the needs of alarm dealers and central stations and work with our development team to ensure our solutions remain number one in the industry.” Torrens then turned the microphone over to Ferro.
Ferro began by saying, “It is an honor to be entrusted with the task of running and growing [Wayne’s] lifelong professional legacy. I want you and all our valued customers to know that under my leadership, Micro Key will continue to adhere to the same core values of providing innovative technology and superior customer service to the security alarm industry. That is a promise.”
In closing, she stated, “The biggest challenge I face this year, that I will overcome, is finally busting the myth that Micro Key is only for small companies or small central stations. The truth is that Micro Key has been the best kept secret in the Security Alarm Industry for 27 years. We can service small alarm companies, large alarm companies, small central stations and large central stations. In fact, we are the only software provider in the industry that not only has a complete, back office management and central station solution but that is truly scalable to any business size.”
The recorded announcement is available at http://webcast.microkey.com.
Tri-Ed/Northern Video Distribution Acquires VSS
Tri-Ed / Northern Video, Woodbury, N.Y., an independent security distributor, announced its acquisition of Video Security Specialists (VSS), a west coast CCTV distributor.
Tri-Ed / Northern Video will maintain the two VSS offices in California at 632 N. Victory Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502, 800-546-8774, and 1785 Pomona Road, Unit B, Corona, CA 92880, 888-896-8774, and will integrate the Las Vegas office & sales team into the Tri-Ed / Northern Video branch at 5240 South Decatur Blvd., Suite 8, Las Vegas, NV 89118, 702-227-6636.
“We are very excited to increase our North American footprint,” noted Pat Comunale, president and chief operations officer. “We welcome the VSS sales staff to the Tri-Ed / Northern Video team.”
Tri-Ed / Northern Video provides solutions from the industry’s leading manufacturers of CCTV, IP, access control, fire, intrusion, sound, communications, structured cable and home automation products. For information, visit www.tri-ed.com.
Four More Companies Are Approved for IQ Recertification
At the monthly board of directors meeting in September, the IQ Board approved the recertification of four companies: Action Alarm Systems Corporation, Nottingham, Md.; Maximum Security Solutions, Macon, Ga.; Security Central Network, Lexington, Tenn.; Total Watch Security, Palm Desert, Calif.
There were no negative comments reported from IQ Board Public Safety Directors Joseph Benoit of the Greenwich Fire Dept. and Steve Heggeman of the Baltimore County Alarm Reduction Team.
To ensure that these companies continue to meet the IQ Certification standards, they must annually demonstrate to the Board that they meet the IQ Certification guidelines.
“The IQ Certification Program improves the overall installation quality of electronic security and life safety systems and helps reduce false alarms,” stated IQ chairman Tim Creenan. “These companies have received their certification by adhering to a rigid set of standards and operating procedures that set them above other security alarm companies in the community.”
Security Dealer Partners To Offer Identity Theft Protection
ADS Security, Nashville, Tenn., partnered with IdentaSafe to add Identity Theft Protection to its growing list of services. Founded in 2004, IdentaSafe is one of the fastest growing identity theft protection providers in the United States, according to the company.
Identity theft in the United States claims an average of $4,841 in damages per victim. According to ADS, last year more than 11 million Americans were victims of identity thef.
“ADS recognizes the growing threat of identity theft, so we wanted to offer this product as a complement to our existing security services,” said Tom Szell, vice president of ADS Security. “We selected IdentaSafe because they have developed a unique 360-degree approach to identity theft protection that provides customers with protection, detection and correction.”
IdentaSafe leverages the nation’s largest identity theft database, looking at 650 billion data points every hour, to detect fraud within seconds of occurrence and block transactions before real damage is done, the company said.
In the event identity theft does occur, IdentaSafe works with customers to restore their identity to a pre-theft status. Additionally, customers are protected by an insurance policy that is paid directly to them that covers lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses.
The officers of Akron Hardware, Akron, Ohio, announced the purchase of Hardware Suppliers of America (HSI) located in Greensboro, N.C.
Akron Hardware recently celebrated its 50th year in business. Currently Akron Hardware has locations in Ohio, Arizona, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. They are known as the largest wholesale distributor of ASSA ABLOY products, and carry Hager, Dorma, ACSI and Kaba products as well. HSI, in the industry since 1983, is also a wholesale distributor. They have locations in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas and California and are known primarily as a wholesaler of Ingersoll Rand and Stanley products. The assets and expertise of Akron Hardware and HSI will provide a more complete wholesale solution to the hardware industry.
Select Security Expands Westward
After a second successful year of summer door-to-door residential sales, Select Security, Lancaster, Pa., opened two new offices to support the program. The company also recently purchased FM Systems in Medina, Ohio.
This acquisition is one of the largest in Select Security’s history. All 12 former FM Systems employees will continue to serve the Eastern Ohio region, including vice presidents Dan Gurich and Debbie Carson. Gurich will now be taking over the role as branch sales manager, while Carson will manage all office operations.
“Ohio is a key market for Select Security as we continue to expand and grow,” said company president, Patrick Egan.
Select Security now has offices in Utah and California, as well as traditional branches in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The Orem, Utah office now operates as the nerve center for the Select Security residential sales program administration. Residential administrative manager Jonathan Tharp will serve as the head of the 25-30 seat call center, as well as lead recruitment efforts in the area. The Orem location was chosen due to its central proximity to two large universities, Brigham Young University and the University of Utah, giving Select Security access to a large pool of potential recruits.
“With the success of our summer sales program we needed to have a west coast presence,” said Egan. “With our new Utah office we can now operate the program year-round in several key markets.”
Residential sales program manager Brady Sessions has also moved west, opening Select Security’s first California office in the suburbs of Sacramento.
“So far, we’ve had several teams commit to joining us for the 2012 season,” said Sessions. “Thanks to the fact that we pay our salespeople more than other programs do, we’ve had an incredible response so far and it looks like next summer will be our biggest season yet.”
IMS Names Leader in Open Platform IP Video Management for 7th Year in a Row
Independent market research firm IMS Research has reported for the seventh year in a row that Milestone Systems is the global leader for open platform IP video management software. Milestone expanded its global presence this year by opening offices in Brazil, Bulgaria and India, as part of the company’s strategic plans for continued success in the high-growth market for IP video surveillance.
Lars Thinggaard, president and chief executive officer at Milestone Systems, said, “Through ambitious management strategy and focused organizational operations, we are performing with profitability and a strong cash position. We consistently evolve our tiered and reliable solutions, while we scale geographically with our business model that builds channel expertise and differentiation through training certifications. We are therefore well positioned for continued growth, and have expanded again in 2011 by opening offices in three new world regions in support of our international scope and response to market demands.”
Janus Elevator Products Spins off Monitor Controls
The board of directors of Janus Elevator Products Inc., Hauppauge, N.Y., unanimously approved a separation of the company’s two core businesses, Janus elevator safety edges and Monitor Controls elevator fixtures. The board plans for Janus Elevator Products to continue as an independent company focused on its safety edge, emergency phone, and digital display components business, and spin-off its Monitor Controls elevator fixtures and touch-panel display business into an independent company. The new company, named Monitor Controls Inc., will continue to provide elevator fixtures and touch-panel display technology for the elevator industry. Rob Isabelle, currently vice president of engineering and manufacturing, will lead the new Monitor as president. Janus will retain its elevator safety edge, emergency phone, and digital display businesses. Mike Byrne will continue as president of Janus.
Thwarted Thieves Did Not Have Time to Smell the Roses
Five burglars trying to outsmart the security system at a Pompano Beach perfume warehouse failed against Sonitrol’s audio intrusion detection technology.
The thieves pulled up to International Brand Trading around midnight, equipped with a generator with a saw tool attached. Their plan was to avoid the alarm contacts they expected would be along the door’s top edge by cutting through only the bottom half of the door. That plan was thwarted when their lookout spotted a police cruiser heading towards the scene.
What they didn’t know was that the verified intrusion detection system inside the warehouse was sending a live audio feed to the Sonitrol central monitoring station. Operators were able to hear all the exterior noise they made and immediately alert the Broward Sheriff’s Office, providing a real-time, verified report of the burglary in progress.
Knowing this was not a false alarm, deputies were there in less than five minutes. Upon arrival they spotted a truck with its lights off leaving the scene. The deputies stopped the truck, finding the generator and various burglary tools. All five suspects were taken into custody.
The burglars caused an estimated $1,000 in damage trying to enter the warehouse, but they never made it in. “High value, easy-to-transport merchandise makes the perfume distribution industry a popular target for thieves,” said John Ray, III, president, Sonitrol of Fort Lauderdale. “Sonitrol’s unique audio technology can give business owners an edge. The ability to detect activity from the outside — before the bad guys get in — provides a crucial layer of protection through early detection.”
International Brand Trading had Sonitrol install the sensitive audio detection system about three years ago, Ray added.
NTC Opens Conference to U.S. Troops
National Training Center (NTC) started the “Train the Troops” program in 2008. Train the Troops is a free program offered to recently discharged military service personnel to train them for careers in the low-voltage industry.
During the National Training Conference 2012, NTC will offer free conference seats to specially selected and qualified troops, an initiative SDM is proud to sponsor, along with Gentex, Space Age, Interlogix, Alarmax, Coleman Cable Inc., and Uplink.
NTC’s National Training Conference is scheduled for February 6 and 7, 2012 in Las Vegas at Aliante Station – Hotel & Casino. This event is focused on fire alarm and is designed for the fire alarm professional. The spotlight of this conference is training and will encompass NICET Fire Alarm Preparation and Fire Alarm System Design in-depth training.
SentryNet Plans Move to Memphis
SentryNet Inc., a fixture on Harvey Street in Greenville , Miss., for almost 25 years, announced it will be moving its Greenville operations to Memphis. Michael Joseph, vice president of operations explained, “We have always been at the forefront of technology in our industry and we feel that we may have a better opportunity to find the best people and infrastructure support in a larger city like Memphis. We did not make this decision on a whim, but after much analysis, planning and debate we felt that this was a necessity if we are going to continue to thrive and grow within our industry. After 25 years in the Greenville market, it is time for us to move our operations to Memphis. Memphis presents an exciting environment in the center of the country with easy access by air or car. We want our new facility to be a centerpiece for industry, associations, and manufacturers and we are building a beautiful training facility inside that we will make available to our industry for centralized training.”
Ikie Lloyd, vice president, added, “This is not a move that we wanted to make. Greenville has been my home for 55 years, but in order to compete, I recognize that we must position ourselves for growth, and it is very hard to do where we are. As we push into the Canadian markets, expand in Central and Latin America, we need Spanish, French and Portuguese speaking employees and our local market doesn’t have the talent pool we need. We have some of the best employees and we are very sorry to disrupt their lives, but in order for our business to survive, we must make changes.”
David Avritt, president and owner of SentryNet added, “Change is never easy. We have great employees. Any employee that wants to move with SentryNet has a job. Our employees have been wonderful to us and we want to make this transition as smooth as possible for them.”
SentryNet presently has 65 employees in their Greenville operations. Plans are to hire 115 in the Memphis office by December 2012. SentryNet’s Greenville operations will close by April 1.
Wire and Cable Distributor Celebrates 35th Anniversary
Metro Wire & Cable Corp., Detroit, a distributor of electrical and electronic wire and cable products, announced the celebration of 35 years in business. Since its founding on July 6, 1976, Metro Wire has supplied customers across a wide range of industries, evolving from an early focus on automotive and OEM market segments to today’s focus on a wide range of markets, notably utility-based companies and electrical contractors.
“Service is what has made us and kept us successful,” said Donald Ezop, president and founder of Metro Wire. “I believe our service is second to none. It’s much more than just selling wire; our people actually enjoy finding solutions that will make our customers’ jobs easier. This focus, coupled with our 24/7 availability, keeps our customers coming back to us. It’s a win-win situation.”
Headquartered in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Metro Wire is staffed by more than 40 industry professionals, many who have been with the company over ten years. “Our staff has definitely matured to the point where we’ve been able to adapt to the ever-changing market conditions,” said Devin Ezop, manager of human resources. “This depth has contributed tremendously to our success, as well.”
Vector New National Service Center Becomes Home of National Accounts Division
With the twentieth anniversary of the inception of Vector Security’s National Accounts Division approaching, the division commemorated this milestone with a move into a new, greatly expanded National Service Center located in Northern Virginia. The facility has been designed from the ground floor up to serve Vector’s growing list of national customers, which today numbers 44,000 locations throughout North America.
According to Michael Grady, Vector security’s executive vice president, this move is all about better preparing Vector to serve even greater levels of loss prevention needs, which include IP video, electronic article surveillance and managed network services. “This 27,000 square foot facility has been designed to better serve our national customers,” said Grady, adding that the move was not just to provide additional space, but to create a virtual loss prevention services laboratory to enlarge the scope of services Vector provides to national customers.
According to Grady, “That goal centers squarely on our National Service Center, which is the focal point of our bottom line performance value proposition to our customers.” Vector’s National Service Center receives an estimated 26,000 service request calls per month. Vector’s NSC screens every one, with an aim at providing a resolution through a variety of ways before needing to dispatch a technician. “Doing this allows us to reduce 26,000 calls to around 4,000 qualified service visits; which we complete in an average of 2.6 days,” said Grady. “By doing this, we can greatly reduce our customers’ costs associated with servicing their systems.” The NSC works hand in hand with Vector’s Pittsburgh, Pa. based central station, which monitors all national account customer locations.
New Developer Network for PSIM Platform
CNL Software, a provider of Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) software, announced the global release of the IPSecurityCenter Developer Network (IPSCDevNet™), becoming the first PSIM vendor to build a community of certified driver developers, according to the company.
The IPSCDevNet™ will provide registered partners with all the tools and support needed to create certified integration drivers to the IPSecurityCenter™ PSIM platform. It will allow the open integration of a wide range of security and environmental management systems, including CCTV, access control, radar, PIDS, and fire.
IPSCDevNet™ partners will have access to a full test suite, which allows low cost, fast and reliable development, the company stated. Partners are also provided with user guides, reference documentation and fully working examples. Interest among CNL Software channel and technology partners has been high, with a number of certified drivers already in use in installed projects, according to CNL Software.
Jon Lunnerfeldt, product manager at CNL Software commented, “This is a great advancement for the PSIM market. By allowing third parties to develop their own drivers, manufacturers of underlying systems who may have previously held some reservations about sharing their technology can now work within enterprise PSIM projects without sharing their SDKs or APIs. We have invested significantly in creating an environment similar to the app development which has revolutionized smart phones. This creates cost and time reductions for both end users and CNL Software partners.”
BICSI & PSA Partner to Promote Training
PSA Security Network (PSA), an electronic security cooperative representing security system integrators and working to promote training and credentialing for the electronic safety and security systems industry has partnered with BICSI, the association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge assessment.
Electronic safety and security technology is rapidly evolving and has integrated beyond the network grid. Fast-paced change, coupled with the need for industry professionals who have the educational knowledge about the entire industry, has led to the partnership between BICSI and PSA. BICSI’s premier security credential, the Electronic Safety and Security (ESS) Designer, is of particular importance in assisting with providing security, protection and life safety-based systems. ESS designers are at the forefront of IP convergence, IP video surveillance, access control and intrusion detection systems.
“This partnership is an essential step toward increasing the visibility and knowledge of both organizations’ education, training and credentialing in the field of electronic safety and security,” said BICSI president Brian Hansen, RCDD, NTS, CSI. “BICSI is eager to work closely with PSA in the coming months to accomplish that goal.”
“We are delighted to have a partnership with BICSI,” stated PSA’s president and chief executive officer, Bill Bozeman, CPP, CHS. “Our integrators are focusing more and more on network-based technology, and the educational advantages BICSI has to offer in this space are second to none. We look forward to working with BICSI to accelerate our security integrators’ capabilities and success in network-driven technology deployments.”
Some of the cooperative activities will include co-marketing the security programs of each organization, highlighting PSA’s security-related educational opportunities and BICSI’s ESS Design credential, as well as related courses and publications. In addition, the agreement allows for reciprocal coverage in the organizations’ industry publications, and booth space and speaking opportunities at both BICSI and PSA’s conferences.
2010 Monitoring Type by % of Accounts
Talk about a technology that changed the industry and enjoyed a long life cycle; it is the digital dialer. While not shown on the chart, in 2008 and 2009 more than 80 percent of respondents to SDM surveys used digital dialers as their primary source for monitoring. In 2010 that dropped significantly by 15 percent to 68 percent, which likely is the largest shift away from the digital dialer since its introduction in the mid 1980s. Prompting this change are two factors. (1) Shift from a wired to wireless world, including the near-future phasing out of POTS lines by phone companies and (2) New possibilities being created by the flexibility of Internet monitoring.
Rather than seeing the elimination of digital dialers as a problem to their business, the majority of the dealers surveyed saw moving to the internet as an opportunity and means of creating new recurring revenue and a differentiation in services. In the future perhaps we will see the alarm systems as the add-on service versus the driver for purchasing monitoring and the ability for the market to move beyond the 20% residential alarm penetration rate.
Michael Keegan, vice president of Magnasphere Corporation, was chosen as the new president for Security America Risk Retention Group (SARRG), a business insurance program tailored specifically to the electronic security industry. Keegan, who is a security professional with more than 27 years of experience, takes the reins from Cecil Hogan, president of Security Consultants, who has served as SARRG president for the past eight years.
SARRG was formed by the Electronic Security Association (ESA) in 2003 as a way to offer affordable and stable insurance — including general liability and Errors and Omissions — specifically for companies in the electronic security industry. As a “risk retention group,” it is owned collectively by policyholder member companies, all from the same industry. ESA is the largest shareholder in SARRG.
“I will continue to work with state associations so that members realize the benefits of our insurance program, and work hard to meet their needs and expectations,” he said. “My goal is to provide the same kind of leadership, because that’s what has made SARRG such a success. Most importantly, I’m hopeful that my tenure will be looked upon as a period of increased shareholder equity and growth.”
The move will provide additional space, technology review labs and increased customer communications.
Alarm Financial Services Inc. (AFS), Corte Madera, Calif., secured a new revolving credit facility with RBS Citizens, N.A. This facility increases the debt funding available to AFS by more than 50 percent. The Edmonds Group represented AFS in the transaction.
“We are very pleased to be entering this new partnership with RBS Citizens, N.A. for a significantly larger debt facility. The new facility will allow us to continue our 25 year track record as a leading funding source for alarm dealers,” said James F. Wooster, chief executive officer of AFS. “The increased access to capital enables us to keep growing our funding business and expand our loan program. The loan program has been very popular since we began it in 2006.”
“AFS has a strong management team with deep experience the alarm industry. It is a tribute to AFS that a leading industry lender like RBS Citizens, N.A. is willing to provide them with a significant new facility,” said Henry Edmonds, founder and president of The Edmonds Group.
“We at AFS appreciate the way that The Edmonds Group helped us to identify our key goals, found us the best bank partner, and worked through all the details to ensure that the deal closed in a timely manner,” said Wooster.
ASI Rebrands as MSA Systems Integration
Access Systems Integration (ASI) announced it is changing its name to MSA Systems Integration.
The name change is due to the significant expansion of its business activities that now includes product lines beyond the traditional ASI activities, the company stated. On October 30, 2008, MSA Security, a privately owned SAFETY Act Certified Detection Security Company acquired Access Systems Integration (ASI). Since then ASI’s product lines have been integrated into MSA’s 24/7 Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
The company will continue to operate in its current structure and contacts will remain unchanged. However, emails have been updated from [name]@asillc.net to [name]@msasi.net to reflect the new MSA Systems Integration name, and its website can now be found at www.msasi.net.
Together, MSA Systems Integration and MSA Security will continue to provide high-level perimeter security.
Israeli OCR Manufacturer Opens U.S. Subsidiary
HTS (Hi-Tech Solutions) Ltd., Rishon LeZion, Israel, a company in the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and computer vision systems market, announced the opening of its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary HTS Americas based in New York.
HTS Americas Inc. was formed as a result of the rapidly growing business in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, along with the company’s desire to provide enhanced service and support levels to its expanding customer base in these countries. “Sales growth and customer support are a top priority and will be accomplished with a dedicated team of business and technical professionals that are local to our customers,” said Phil Elovic, president and chief executive officer of HTS Ltd.
HTS Americas will drive HTS’s expansion into strategic markets including parking, access control, transportation, critical assets, border surveillance, and safe city.
HTS recruited John Whiteman to lead HTS Americas as its CEO. Whiteman has more than 20 years of experience in the electronic security systems industry with extensive experience in government, homeland security, military, retail and Fortune 1000 markets.
“There is tremendous demand and opportunity for more robust LPR based systems in a number of exciting markets. HTS’ license plate recognition and proprietary vehicle identity recognition technology provide the technological advancements and comprehensive solution that the markets are thirsting for and our customers are demanding,” stated Whiteman.
“We are pleased with the growth in our Americas business and recognize that this is the time for HTS to establish a fully dedicated sales and support center for the region. We welcome John on board and are confident that he will be a significant asset to the growth and expansion of HTS,” Elovic added.
Smarter Security Systems, Austin, Texas, appointed Stori Waugh as vice president of marketing. Waugh has responsibility for branding and will drive all marketing and sales enablement planning and execution. In addition, she leads the product group charged with introducing the next generation of profitable security solutions.
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Quintron Systems Inc., Santa Maria, Calif., announced the expansion of its reseller program with the addition of two new regional sales managers, Brian Ashley and Roy Wake. Ashley joins Quintron with more than 20 years experience in virtually every segment of the access control and video integration industries. Wake has more than 27 years of experience in the electronic security industry. Ashley will handle the central region and Wake will cover the west coast.
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Bold Technologies, Colorado Springs, Colo., appointed Adam Eurich, a senior development specialist, to its development team. Prior to joining Eurich brings more than 19 years of development experience in alarm automation software.
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Tri-Ed / Northern Video Distribution, Woodbury, N.Y., continued expansion of its North American footprint in Atlanta, Ga. Staffed by industry veterans Derek Criswell and Billy Partin, the new Atlanta branch is located at 3621 Clearview Parkway, Doraville, GA 30340 (Tel: 888.874.3336). Robb Morrison, bringing years of industry experience, is responsible for business development in the Atlanta market.
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The Huffmaster Companies, Troy, Mich., appointed Thomas Hines, CPP, PSP, as its senior director, overseeing its new VirSec division. VirSec™ provides “virtual security,” including remote video monitoring, remote access management, and hosted security services via the VirSec™ Operations Center (VOC). Hines’ responsibilities will encompass a wide range of sales and marketing, operational, and financial matters. During this launch phase, his primary focus is to build VirSec’s North American distribution network, in the form of its Authorized Reseller Partner Program.
Hines has a broad industry background spanning more than 25 years.
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Smarter Security Systems hired Shawn McFarlane as the western region sales manager. McFarlane is responsible for selling Fastlane® optical turnstiles, Door Detective™, and Smarter Outdoor™ products to help organizations better secure their perimeters and internal building access points in 15 states in the western half of the United States.
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Amanda Baumgartner of Rapid Response Monitoring was chosen to serve on the IQ Certification board through 2012. She takes over for Jacqueline Keast, who is leaving both the industry and her board position. Baumgartner was recently promoted to licensing manager for Rapid Response Monitoring and will also act as the central station’s IQ compliance officer.
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Vector Security appointed Teresa H. Godwin to expand Vector’s National Accounts sales force. Godwin, a 19-year industry veteran, will be responsible for a growing number of Vector Security accounts throughout the Southern United States.
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Tri-Ed / Northern Video Distribution added Brian Kainu to the staff of its Seattle branch as sales associate. Brian brings more than six years of sales experience to his new position with expertise in CCTV, IP and fiber.
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National Monitoring Center (NMC), Aliso Viejo, Calif., appointed Bob Di Alto as dealer relations manager. Di Alto will use his previous experience as a dealer and central stations manager to assist in bringing NMC to the forefront of dealer relations and dealer based programs. Di Alto began his career in 1978 and served in various executive positions.
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CapitalSource, Chevy Chase, Md., named Will Schmidt as managing director of the Security Lending Group. In this capacity, Schmidt will be responsible for developing new client relationships and structuring, underwriting and funding transactions within the security and government services markets. Schmidt has been with CapitalSource for seven years, joining the firm as part of the SLP Capital acquisition.
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Proximex, San Jose, Calif., hired Paul Abranovic as its new vice president of sales and business development. Abranovic has more than 20 years of successful executive experience in the IT services, hardware and technology venture sectors, bringing to Proximex a unique combination of experience to secure sales in the PSIM market.
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Avigilon Corporation, Vancouver, ranked No. 4 on Technology Fast 500™, Deloitte’s ranking of 500 of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America. Rankings are based on percentage of fiscal year revenue growth during the period from 2006 to 2010. Avigilon reportedly grew 38,796 percent during this period.
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Visonic Ltd., added two new North American sales managers, Rachel St. John and Bob Carrino. St. John came aboard as sales manager of the Central region. Her territory spans Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Mich., Minn., Miss., Neb., N.D., S.D, Ohio, Okla., Texas and Wis. St. John spent a lifetime in the security industry, raised in a family owned commercial integration company. She has hands-on experience in almost every level of the security industry from designing commercial CCTV systems, managing sales teams, and key accounts. Carrino joined the team as Northeast sales manager serving the states of Md. through Vt., inclusive of Pittsburgh. He began his career in sales with a 20-year run in the retail industry before transitioning into the security industry 16 years ago.
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PSA Security Network, Westminster, Colo., appointed Sandy Vecchiarelli as customer service manager. Vecchiarelli has more than 23 years of experience in management, process improvement, and call center and customer service leadership. She received a Customer Excellence Appreciation Award from Sears National Customer Relations and the Summit Club Award for Outstanding Performance from GE Capital.
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VSS Monitoring, San Mateo, Calif., added Peter Vinsel as vice president of engineering. Vinsel, an industry veteran with 30 years of experience, brings expertise in the development of high-capacity packet switching equipment, packet monitoring and network analytics for the networking and telecommunication industries to VSS Monitoring.
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Brivo Systems LLC, Bethesda, Md., announced a number of staffing additions as the company continues to grow its personnel to sustain strong growth. Formerly the ACS WebService team leader, Rudy Setiwan was promoted to the position of director of engineering. Rena Mayer is the new Southeast regional sales manager, responsible for Miss., Ala., N.C., S.C., Ga., Fla., and Tenn. In the South Central region, comprised of Mo., Ark., La. Okla. Kan., and Texas, Troy Reidel took over as the new sales manager. Troy has more than 25 years security industry experience. Jim Foley took over in the Northeast region Maine., Vt., N.H., Mass., R.I., Conn., N.Y., N.J., and Eastern Canada. Sarah Harissis and Faye Dobler joined Brivo as user experience and Java developers, respectively.
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Tri-Ed / Northern Video Distribution added Brian Kainu to the staff of its Seattle branch as sales associate. Brian brings more than six years of sales experience to his new position with expertise in CCTV, IP and fiber.
