Archive: January 2007

WASHINGTON--Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) is hopeful that fire-safety legislation she reintroduced on Jan. 23 will receive favorable attention from the new Congress. "Every time we introduce it, it gets more interest. When it gets to be the third or fourth time, we start to get more traction," said Nicole Williams, communications director for Tubbs Jones. The congresswoman reintroduced three pieces of legislation. Two will need approval by both houses of Congress before becoming law. The College...

MANASQUAN, N.J.--Criticom International, a division of Integrated Alarm Services Group until an expected merger with Protection One is completed, announced on Jan. 19 that it has leased new space for secure office property in Cypress, Calif. Criticom anticipates occupying the new facility by the end of the second quarter after leasehold agreements are completed and central station infrastructure has been put into place. Criticom management could not be reached for comment. The new Cypress central...

ASTON, Pa.--Sensaphone, a Pennsylvania company that manufactures products which monitor homes and buildings remotely, announced it has upgraded its product line with the addition of the Sensaphone 400. Vice president of sales Bob Douglass said, "A lot of security systems are on the marketplace today. What's different is that we're doing more than just security. Sensaphone protects the whole home." The new upgrade includes temperature and power-failure monitoring, with optional sensors for detecting...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--Mace Security International, a manufacturer of personal-defense products and professional electronic security products, announced with an SEC filing Jan. 18 that Kelly Capital, an investment firm controlling $500 million in annual revenues, has offered to purchase all outstanding shares at $3 per share. This represents a total offer of roughly $46 million. In the filing, Mace said its board of directors is reviewing the offer and will respond, but offered no timeline for a...

TORONTO--Bioscrypt, an enterprise-level access control manufacturer, announced this week an agreement to acquire A4Vision, a manufacturer of 3D facial imaging identification systems. A4 stockholders will receive nine million shares of Bioscrypt, which closed at $.98 on the day of the announcement. In addition, investors associated with A4, including Menlo Ventures, In-Q-Tel and Motorola Ventures, agreed to invest between $6 million and $8 million in newly issued Bioscrypt common shares and warrants...

WASHINGTON--Alarm industry advocates are eagerly awaiting word from the Federal Communications Commission about whether the regulatory agency will agree to extend the AMPS sunset beyond the February 2008 deadline. The good news for the alarm industry is that the FCC is considering the request, something that was not a guarantee when ADT and the Alarm Industry Communications Committee on Oct. 4, 2006, asked for the extension. Over the past three months, representatives from ADT and the alarm industry...

WESTMINSTER, Colo.--PSA Security Network members will have a leg up in securing government contract work thanks to an agreement announced Jan.17 between PSA and member company Condortech Services of Alexandria, Va. "CTS will team with other PSA members to compete for contracts that were previously unattainable and to create more opportunities for them in the government security market," according to a PSA news release. Under the agreement, which coincides with the Department of Homeland Security's...

QUINCY, Mass.--The National Fire Protection Association announced Jan. 8 it had established a scholarship in the name of Arthur E. Cote, who retired last month from the NFPA. Cote is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the leading authorities on fire sprinkler protection and technology. The Arthur E. Cote Scholarship will recognize and offer support for individuals pursuing a career in fire protection engineering. Cote joined the NFPA in 1977. Prior to his recent retirement, he was...

LONDON and FAIRFIELD, Conn.--General Electric and Smiths Group announced this week a letter of intent to form a joint venture, to be called Smiths GE Detection, which will join GE Homeland Protection and Smiths Detection, and be owned 64 percent by Smiths and 36 percent by General Electric. Stephen Phipson, currently group managing director of Smiths Detection, will serve as Smiths GE's first president. The creation of the joint venture hinges on board and shareholder approval, as well as completion...

SEATTLE--Washington Alarm, a full-service alarm company in the Pacific Northwest, was awarded Five Diamond Certification by the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA). To achieve Five Diamond Certification, every Washington Alarm operator had to pass the Level 1 training course and had to demonstrate proficiency in alarm verification, communications with the Public Service Answering Points (such as Emergency 911 service), emergency preparedness, knowledge of electronic communications equipment...