Archive: May 2010
FTC postpones looming Red Flags Rule compliance deadline
May 28, 2010Daniel Gelinas
WASHINGTON—The Federal Trade Commission, which works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices, on May 28 announced it would grant a seven-month extension on Red Flags Rule compliance. Security Systems News earlier covered a CSAA-sponsored webinar that educated alarm company executives on how identity theft and the Red Flags Rule could possibly impact their business. The compliance deadline was originally set for June 1, 2010. The new compliance deadline...
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
Who'd I see at the show? Northeast Security Systems Contractors Expo
May 28, 2010Tess Nacelewicz
I made the trek down to Marlborough, Mass yesterday to the Northeast Security & Systems Contractors Expo. While it's only a two-hour drive from Southern Maine where I live and work, this is the first time I've been to the show.
I was pleasantly surprised. It's a nice, regional show. Some I spoke to said the traffic was lighter than in years past and chocked that up to the economy. “A lot of guys don't want to even take a morning away from work,” one manufacturer said to me.
Still the...
Cernium's Archerfish in USA Today
May 28, 2010Martha Entwistle
No, the product wasn't written up. It was being advertised. I did a double-take when I saw the guy next to me on the plane reading the Sports section and asked if I could take it home with me. Check this out, from the front page of yesterday's Sports section:
Seriously? An ad for an analytics-enabled camera on the front page of the USA Today sports section? Not only is it mainstream advertising, it's mainstream advertising to the least-discerning readers - the people who need candy to read in the...
Hikvision files for large IPO
May 28, 2010Martha Entwistle
I don't have a link, as I received the press release as a Word document, but Chinese video products manufacturer Hikvision has announced an initial public offering that should raise a big chunk of change:
“50,000,000 shares at the price of ¥68 per share on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.”
So, what's that in dollars? By my math, they're talking $10 a share, times 50 million, equals a $500 million capital raise.
That should definitely fuel some R&D.
This listing will allow Hikvision to invest...
Man infected with computer virus? Sci-fi or security threat?
May 28, 2010Daniel Gelinas
I recently blogged about advancements in PERS, mPERS, telehealth, telemedicine and security, in general, becoming more mobile, more personal and compact as technology improves. I came across a couple stories in the last few days that I found particularly interesting and topical to that previous post.
MSNBC reported a researcher had recently run a test whereby he proved that telehealth technology was not without its own security risks. This guy apparently infected an implanted RFID chip (similar...
Skunk Baxter's idea for a value-add service
May 27, 2010L. Samuel Pfeifle
CHICAGO—At what is by many measures a successful PSA-TEC 2010 here, perhaps one of the more anticipated elements of the show was the keynote address by Jeffrey “Skunk” Baxter, a Grammy-winning guitarist and producer and now highly trusted national defense consultant. Just what was this guy going to talk about?
Those who attended February's Barnes Buchanan conference had some idea, as Baxter also keynoted that event (it's where PSA CEO Bill Bozeman heard him speak), but few of the...
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
GTCR clears last hurdle, close imminent
May 27, 2010Tess Nacelewicz
GTCR, the Chicago private equity group that announced last month it was buying Protection One, announced this week that it settled a couple of shareholder lawsuits over the deal.
They've agreed to pay public shareholders (a group that does not include the majority owners Quadrangle, Monarch and Pro One management) $3.25 million to settle the suits. That works out to 40 cents per shares. They've also agreed to provide shareholders with some additional information.
The payment takes care of two—out...
Steamboat Springs, Colo. votes in new false alarm ordinance
May 27, 2010SSN Staff
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo.—A May 4 story in Steamboat Today reported the city's police and fire chiefs were ready to push through a new false alarm ordinance and attendant fine schedule to the Steamboat Springs City Council, which voted to pass the ordinance on May 18.
Under the ordinance the owner of any alarm that malfunctions, is set off by user error or by an undetermined cause more than once will face increasing fines. The second offense would carry a fine of $200, a third offense $300,...
The PSA-TEC jam
May 26, 2010Martha Entwistle
(Heads up: this page will take a while to load because of the UStream videos below - give it a minute if you actually want to check it out.)
I'm sure everyone has their own favorites, but the PSA-TEC jam session is by far my favorite event on the security industry calendar. And this time we even got some (bad) video of the event.
Thanks once again to Bill Bozeman, PSA CEO, for having the idea and twisting arms four years ago to get this off the ground, and to Tim Brooks at PSA for perpetuating...
Keller appointed senior director of e-business for Leviton
May 26, 2010SSN Staff
MELVILLE, N.Y.—Leviton on May 26 announced the appointment of David Keller to the newly-created position of senior director of e-business. In his new role, Keller will lead Leviton's web-based marketing initiatives. His focus will include expansion of the company's on-line brand identity through the development of new web strategies, content expansion and compliance of design standards.
Keller has an extensive background in e-business solutions, including 14 years in information management...