uControl says broadband providers will offer its solution as part of bundled services

AUSTIN, Texas--UControl, a provider of home security and automation solutions, told Security Systems News on June 4 that it has partnered with broadband service providers to launch its recently released home security, monitoring and automation (SMA) platform. Jim Johnson, president and chief executive officer of uControl, said he could not disclose the names of the broadband providers, but said they would be offering uControl's product as a bundled service package to customers. "Our arrangement with broadband providers is analogous to their arrangement with other companies that help them launch services like high speed data, VoIP and cable TV," said Johnson. "We sell them the software and hardware and they pull together the other pieces to launch this service." Johnson said the company has spent the last two and a half years developing the product, which it unveiled at The Cable Show in New Orleans on May 18, and combines an alarm system, communications gateway and home automation platform with a touchscreen panel. "This is all about creating the digital home and creating a big digital home market and we view home security as the Trojan horse to create the digital home," he said. The system can integrate with existing alarm panels from Honeywell, DSC, GE and Bosch or be installed as its own independent wireless alarm system. For the initial deployment, the system will be professionally installed by technicians, but Johnson said he believes the system could eventually be a self-installed product. "The broadband providers are developing this service offering so it is everything you get with home security today, plus," he said. "They'll use third-party central stations to dispatch police and fire and, in addition to that, have the ability to control the system from the Web or from your mobile phone." While uControl will market its systems primarily through broadband service providers, Johnson said the company hasn't ruled out traditional security channels. "We think we've lowered some operational cost barriers, and if traditional integrators and dealers are interested in that, we'll certainly talk with them, but most of the interest right now is coming from broadband service providers." Johnson remained mum about any launch expectations but said "it typically takes six-to-12 months for a service provider to transition from verifying that the technology works to rolling it out and making it available to all of their customers."