Archive: November 2002
Vizer embraces the high-tech
November 1, 2002SSN Staff
BROOMFIELD, Colo. - Less than three months after coming onto the security scene, systems integrator Vizer Group is setting itself apart from other newcomers by offering biometric-based access control systems and digital video surveillance systems.
Already, the company is poised to hit the $500,000 sales mark by the end of the year, a feat company officials did not expect to accomplish so soon.
"We originally had forecast about $250,000 by the end of the year and it looks like we could possibly...
Fire group seeks sprinkler tax break
November 1, 2002Andrea Gura
DALLAS - A fire sprinkler organization is hoping to get a bill introduced in Congress that would provide federal tax breaks for property owners that install a sprinkler system in their buildings.
The American Fire Sprinkler Association has hired a lawyer with legislative experience to research in what form a tax incentive would be most helpful to the building community, said Steve Muncy, president of the AFSA.
"There are a lot of concerns post Sept. 11 as to how secure our buildings really are...
Fire, security firms named in lawsuit
November 1, 2002Chelsie Woods
WILKES-BARRE, Penn. - Grinnell Fire Protection Services Co. and SecurityLink from Ameritech are among a handful of companies named in a lawsuit for a fire that destroyed a records keeping facility in 1997.
The trial, which began at the end of September, could last several months since it involves approximately 15 plaintiffs. Collectively, damage claims total more than $100 million.
In its lawsuit plaintiff Diversified Records claims that Grinnell Fire Protection was negligent since it did not design...
SecurityXchange sets 2003 dates
November 1, 2002SSN Staff
PARK CITY, Utah - SecurityXchange, the strategic sales event for North America's largest integrators and installers of commercial security systems, has announced dates for its 2003 event.
Following a highly successful first year show, the second annual SecurityXchange will be held June 22-25, 2003 at The Lodges at Deer Valley, in Park City, Utah. SecurityXchange, co-produced by Security Systems News, facilitates high level discussions between the presidents and chief executives of some of...
Dealer interest spikes in other finance programs
November 1, 2002Andrea Gura
The demise of Leasecomm Corp.'s dealer program last month, following major cutbacks in ADT's Authorized Dealer program, have sent many dealers enrolled in those programs looking to other sources for assistance. Officials at those companies report an overwhelming amount of interest.
More than 340 dealers in Leasecomm's program were notified in mid-October that effective immediately, the company would cease all new account funding. ADT told its 700 plus dealers in September that it was cutting funding...
Bandwidth issues still provide challenges for network cameras
November 1, 2002Joanne Friedrick
Whether network cameras are sending images to users via the Internet or a private, secure network, system bandwidth continues to be part of the debate.
Frank Abram, vice president at Panasonic, explained the conundrum this way: "Our problem with networking is that the industry and the technology are ready to go on the network, but the networks aren't ready for us."
Abram said this is especially true for anyone looking to use the Internet. "If you think you're going to do security via the Internet,...
AlarmForce posts record growth, revenue numbers
November 1, 2002Andrea Gura
TORONTO - Security manufacturer and installer Alarm Force has posted another successful quarter with its aggressive mass marketing model, recording an increase in revenues of 23 percent and net income growth of 25 percent.
With 30 offices and 100 employees across Canada, Alarm Force has been able to grow to a base of more than 33,000 accounts through organic growth, and without generating much debt, said Joel Matlin, Alarm Force president and chief executive officer. The company expects to sign...
Insurer: disabled smoke alarms common
November 1, 2002SSN Staff
HARTFORD, Conn. - Nearly 30 percent of adults said they had disconnected smoke alarms in their house and failed to reconnect the devices right away, according to a national survey sponsored by The Hartford, a property insurer.
About 28 percent of the 953 adults queried in the survey admitted to intentionally disabling or removing batteries from a smoke detector and not immediately restoring it to service at least once in the past five years, while three percent said they did that routinely. The...
False alarm ordinance watch
November 1, 2002SSN Staff
Country Club Hills, Mo.
Country Club Hills alderman recently voted to start charging fines for repeated false alarms at homes and businesses as part of increasing fees for several municipal permits.
Officials plan to provide a warning for the first offense, but charge $25 for two false alarms, according to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The third false alarm costs $50 while four or more results in a charge of $100.
Howard County, Md.
A year after implementing a new false alarm ordinance,...
Briefs
November 1, 2002SSN Staff
Notifier Fleet rebrands itself as SecureFleet
VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. - Notifier Fleet Management Systems has changed its name, adopting its product brand name SecureFleet.
The change took place Oct. 31. The maker of GPS products for vehicle tracking will now be known as SecureFleet Management Systems.
"It better identifies the product line with what we're doing," said Mark Fischer, president of SecureFleet. "And, it enriches the brand name for what it is."
The company entered the security market...