AT&T inks $3M deal with Vector
By Jeffrey Sanders
Updated Fri October 1, 2004
PITTSBURGH - Vector Security has awarded AT&T with a three-year, $3-million networking contract that has the telecommunications company providing all of the security company’s data services.
As a result of the deal, AT&T will implement an Internet protocol virtual private network that links the company’s corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh to its 22 branches throughout the United States. MCI previously provided the security company with data services.
One of the features of the deal is the roll-out of Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, services connecting six locations of the company. Using the IP VPN, the company will be able to use just one network for data, video and voice applications.
VoIP has been a heavily discussed application in the security industry in recent months, with dealers and central stations debating the dependability of the technology. One of the questions has been if customers switch their home telephone service to a VoIP service will the alarm system remain effective?
“VoIP can have a negative impression,†said Thom Helisek, vice president of information services at Vector, who stressed that the VoIP service will be only used internally and not by the operator’s at its central station.
Founded more than 40 years ago, Vector Security is a full-service security company. It monitors 135,000 accounts, of which 70 percent are residential.
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