Archive: January 2006

IRVING, Texas--The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association will host the NBFAA Spring Conference and Chartered State Association Symposium in Las Vegas, April 2 through 6. Members can participate in events such as industry-related training, seminars, discussions and networking. The conference kicks off on Sunday, April 2, with guest speaker Dan Cain, founder and president of Cain Consulting Group. Cain will present a workshop on management and governance, with a networking event following. On Monday...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--Dallmeier, a German video technology company, moved stateside in January to provide customer service and support to its North American client base. Dallmeier entered the U. S. distribution channel in 2001 and worked with a New York distributor to sell products to about 20 integrators in the casino and banking markets. Although it has already developed sales relationships in North America, the company wanted to be closer to assist customers. "Over the years, we figured out that...

SAVANNAH, Ga.--A new survey of security system integrators and manufacturers reports that the use of IP-ready security technology is on a steady upswing. The report, co-commissioned by Security Director News and Security Systems News, found that 69 percent of nearly 500 respondents are currently installing the necessary IP infrastructure to support IP-based security technology and another 79 percent said they are using digital devices in security applications. Approximately 67 percent of survey takers...

SWITZERLAND--GE Security and Siemens' Building Technology Group announced in mid January a collaboration to expand both companies' reach into the shipping and container security market. In exchange for exclusive European marketing and distribution rights for CommerceGuard AB's container security device program, Siemens has acquired a minority stake in the GE subsidiary, which is also partly owned by the Japanese-based Mitsubishi. CommerceGuard's device allows for containers to be sealed when they...

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--Ten states currently have no certification or regulations regarding the hiring and employment of private security officers. "It's shocking," said National Association of Security Companies executive director Joseph Ricci, "and most people don't know that." Including integrators and alarm companies, which, with the increase in verification standards, are increasingly teaming with guard companies to provide commercial and residential solutions. It shouldn't be surprising then that...

BELTSVILLE, Md.--ASG's latest acquisition, of the Dallas-based residential security company Entrust Connections, brings with it $46,000 in recurring monthly revenue and 1,800 accounts, but ASG's senior officials are most excited about the company's extensive builder program. "Right now, Entrust has an active working relationship with 25 Dallas-Fort Worth homebuilders," said Bob Ryan, vice president of sales and marketing for ASG. Together, these builders are "capable of delivering 2,500 to 4,000...

STOCKTON, Calif.--Paul Alamo, owner of Alamo Alarm in Stockton, Calif., will stand trial this month for the murder of Mark Hasty, the Record reported. The event in question happened Oct. 13, 2003, at a home on which house painter Hasty was working. Alamo has been free on $333,333 bail since the time of his arrest in December of 2003. Alamo has claimed through his lawyer that he shot Hasty in self-defense. Deputy District Attorney Lester Fleming says Alamo should not have been at the crime scene in...

KALAMAZOO, Mich.--A city program that provides matching funds for eligible business owners who install sprinkler systems is contributing to the economic Renaissance taking place in this city, said a local business owner. Ron Smilanich is the owner of Bimbo's Pizza, a flagship restaurant in Kalamazoo's historic downtown since his father opened it in 1959. Smilanich's building is one of 16 that received matching funds to install sprinklers systems. B.L. Haroun, a Kalamazoo sprinkler contractor, performed...

WASHINGTON-- The Central Station Alarm Association and the Alarm Industry Communications Committee on Feb. 7 and 8 will hold briefings and visit members of Congress. The goal is to discuss the potential disruption of alarm monitoring services when VOIP telephone service is installed as well as the need for alarm monitoring license reciprocity. The associations want industry representatives to create a dialogue with Congress because this year the Congress will undertake the first rewrite of telecommunications...

BILLERICA, Mass.--Rival biometric companies Identix and Viisage surprised the security industry last week by announcing plans to merge. The move will create one of the biggest biometric providers in the market. The stock-to-stock merger is valued at $700 million and is expected to close during the second quarter of 2006. Identix shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of .473 newly issued shares of Viisage stock for each Identix share. The combined company is expected to have revenues of...