DELRAY BEACH, Fla.—Leading integrators and end users from Security Systems News “20 under 40” Class of 2015 discussed how to deal with manufacturers, IT staff and each other in the Next Gen educational session, which took place Feb. 2 here at TechSec Solutions.
AUSTIN, Texas—Multiple-service operators—the cable companies and the telecoms—are leading the way in integrating security equipment and home automation at the future expense of traditional monitoring companies and high-end providers according to an IHS report.
Professional security companies proudly point to the good service they give consumers as an important differentiator between them and their giant cableco and telecom competitors.
DALLAS, Texas and EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—AT&T plans to buy DIRECTV for $48.5 billion, the companies announced this week. The deal will allow AT&T to expand its broadband network to more than 70 million customer locations, the companies said.
Greater visibility, broader market acceptance and (for some central stations) more wholesale monitoring accounts are just some of the benefits often mentioned in connection with the entrance of cablecos and telecoms into security.
YARMOUTH, Maine—In June, Comcast, a relative newcomer to the industry, rolled out Xfinity Home Control, which allows homeowners to control lights and thermostats and remotely view rooms in their homes without what was traditionally the foundation of such a package: a home security system.
This week, iControl Networks, the software platform used by ADT’s Pulse, and a number of cable companies, including Comcast's Xfinity Home, Time Warner Cable's IntelligentHome and Rogers Smart Home Monitoring, announced that it’s launching an Android App Partner Program, called the “FastTrack App
YARMOUTH, Maine—Selling home security at retail stores is one of the hottest trends in the industry. Comcast, AT&T and Lowe’s are among the big players doing it, and some smaller companies are carving a niche there as well. But the majority of SSN poll respondents see it as something else: a fad that won’t be supported in the long run by customers.
PHILADELPHIA—A mantra in the industry today is that customers want more than a basic home security system—they want extras to control their lights and thermostats and remotely look in on kids and pets. But Comcast Cable believes there are customers out there who don’t want a security system but still would like those useful features—so it’s offering a new product just for them.
