Archive: 2007
Another Christmas break-in story
December 30, 2007Martha Entwistle
Here's another classic Christmas break-in story. Yet again, we have a homeowner working with an anonymous security company, and the incredibly incurious reporter doesn't bother to investigate further into this technology that allows the homeowner to view video cameras over the web. Ho hum, why bother reporting on the interesting part of the story?
Especially when you can make awesome sentences like these:
Treanor has changed his locks, deadbolts and installed motion lights around his home, however,...
This is why analytics seem so attractive
December 30, 2007Martha Entwistle
Wondering why analytics seem like such a good idea? See this story. The big question is whether alarm events can programmed to produce small electronic charges.
Not THAT Risk Management Consultants
December 28, 2007Martha Entwistle
It appears that our top newswire story from yesterday has caused some confusion. I don't think it's my fault.
The story was about a top engineering firm, KCI Technologies, buying Risk Management Consultants and with it creating a new subsidiary, KCI Protection Technologies.
Unfortunately, there's another Risk Management Consultants, run by Jim Emerick, which is based in Cokeysville, Maryland, and just two miles from KCI's Hunt Valley offices. Emerick reports being a bit surprised to hear he'd sold...
SimplexGrinnell announces alliance with Novation Wireless
December 27, 2007SSN Staff
WESTMINSTER, Mass., and WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--SimplexGrinnell and wireless access control manufacturer Novation Wireless Security Systems announced this week a strategic alliance, whereby SimplexGrinnell will install Novation's nSeries Wireless Control Systems.
"Novation's nSeries product line has a revolutionary wireless solution for a wide variety of applications," said Simplex director of integrated security systems Tom Giannini in statement, "and both companies share the same target market,...
Give an alarm system for Christmas
December 27, 2007Martha Entwistle
Okay, it's a couple days late for that, but when newspapers run their inevitable Christmas break-in stories, it's an opportunity for alarm companies to chime in about how alarm systems work best, how to price them, what to expect of your installation company, etc.
If I owned an alarm company in Northwest North Carolina (that's the region the Winston-Salem Journal covers, according to the web site), I'd at least pen a letter to the editor noting that, hey, see how the guy with the alarm system didn't...
Send Word Now appoints Tony Schmitz as CEO
December 27, 2007SSN Staff
NEW YORK--Send Word Now, a manufacturer of on-demand alerting and response services, has announced this week Tony Schmitz as the new president and chief executive officer. He replaces Tom Shoemaker, who recently led the company through an $8.5 million financing round.
Schmitz began advising Send Word Now in 2004 and joined the board of directors earlier this year. His resume includes an emphasis on creating and building value for technology companies. He was most recently the founder and head of...
KCI acquires Risk Management Consultants, launches KCI-PT
December 27, 2007L. Samuel Pfeifle
HUNT VALLEY, Md.--KCI Technologies, one of the 100 largest engineering firms in the United States, announced this week the acquisition of Risk Management Consultants, which has been folded into the company as a new subsidiary, KCI Protection Technologies. RMC's former president, John Fannin, will head KCI-PT, which now provides specialized engineering services for security, fire protection, risk analysis, life-safety and emergency management.
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Edit, Dec. 28, 11 a.m.: Please note that this Risk...
Infrastruct to hold Giuliani fundraiser
December 27, 2007L. Samuel Pfeifle
HOUSTON--Following Gov. Rick Perry's recent endorsement of former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani's candidacy president, at least one other group of Texans have thrown their support behind him: Infrastruct Security. Chief executive officer and company president Dan Weiss said last week his company will host a fundraiser for Giuliani at company headquarters here, Jan. 23.
"I'm supportive of him," said Weiss. "I think he's good for the security industry and I want to help get him elected president."
Giuliani...
ImageWare adds voice recognition with Sol Logic
December 27, 2007SSN Staff
SAN DIEGO--Identity management systems manufacturer ImageWare Systems announced this week the complete acquisition of Sol Logic, a developer of real-time voice recognition and language translation technology. The all-stock transaction is valued at roughly $3.2 million.
ImageWare will now integrate Sol Logic's technology into its larger biometric platform, which is hardware and algorithm independent, enabling the enrollment and management of unlimited population sizes. ImageWare's identification products...
Securitas Systems acquires in Europe
December 27, 2007SSN Staff
STOCKHOLM--Securitas Systems announced last week the acquisition of Installerende Partners, a supplier of integrated security and IP satellite services to large customers in Holland. It is the end of an active fourth quarter to 2007 that also saw Securitas Systems purchase PEI Systems and Securex in the United States.
As with the other deals, Securitas Systems announced the purchase price as a multiple of EBITDA, a factor of between five and seven. Installerende's sales were roughly $4 million for...