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Archive: February 2012


Residential

Comcast's Xfinity gets new name and features

February 29, 2012Tess Nacelewicz

PHILADELPHIA—Comcast has renamed its home security/home automation service, is about to add a new energy-management feature and has expanded the service to yet another market: Seattle.Comcast's Xfinity Home Security service is now being called Xfinity Home to better reflect the fact that the service offers home automation in addition to security, the telecom announced Tuesday.Jamila Patton, senior manager of corporate communications for Comcast, told Security Systems News that because “the...

Comcast, EcoFactor, Jamila Patton, Xfinity Home, Xfinity Home Security


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This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)

And the winner of the “Security Oscar” is….

February 29, 2012Tess Nacelewicz

I love Meryl Streep but her Oscar win Sunday night felt a little bit “been there, done that” to me. Not matter how deserved, it was her third, so where was the thrill? So thank goodness for Don Moore, president of Moore Protection, a security company based in Redondo Beach, Calif., who instituted the Morpheus Award—which I like to call the “Security Oscar.” At Academy Awards time each year, Moore Protection presents the “Morphie” to a film “that...

Award, Don Moore, John Akouris, Moore Protection, Tower Heist


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Fire Systems Installation

Louisiana fire dealer predicts more wins

February 29, 2012Tess Nacelewicz

NORTHFORD, Conn., and LAFAYETTE, La.—Notifier by Honeywell recently announced that its Marine ONYX line, fire alarm systems designed for nautical environments, has gained approval for marine applications from the U.S. Coast Guard, Lloyd's Register and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The approval came after a series of rigorous tests, according to the Connecticut-based company. Charlie Primeaux, project manager for the Fire & Safety Division of Louisiana-based Dynamic Industries,...

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Charlie Primeaux, Dynamic Industries, Lloyd's Register, Marine ONYX, United States Coast Guard


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Monitoring

NG 911 passes despite alarm industry concerns

February 29, 2012Rich Miller

VIENNA, Va.—A provision to establish Next Generation 911 became law Feb. 22 as part of the payroll tax bill, including language the alarm industry feared might allow unverified PERS calls to stream into PSAPs. But agreements have been reached that will prevent the measure from having a negative impact on central stations, according to the Alarm Industry Communications Committee. The AICC had been lobbying members of Congress since December to change H.R. 3630—the Middle Class Tax Relief...

Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC), Lou Fiore, Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, National Emergency Number Association, NENA, Next Generation 911, NG911, Personal Emergency Response System (PERS), Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs)


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Residential

Loud starts off new year with new acquisitions

February 29, 2012Tess Nacelewicz

KENNESAW, Ga.—In 2011, Loud Security considered making as many as nine acquisitions, but ended up turning them all down. But now, with 2012 barely under way, Loud has made two acquisitions in its backyard. What clinched the recent deals, according to John Loud, president and owner of the regional security company based here, is that “we found two situations that are really wonderful matches for us.” The other opportunities last year weren't a good fit, he told Security Systems...

Due West Security, George Bowers, Honeywell, John Loud, Linda Bowers, Signature Alert


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On The Editor's Desk

What you need to know about PIV

February 29, 2012Martha Entwistle

If you don't do work with the federal government, should you care about what's going on with PIV (Personal Identity Verification) credentials? Isn't it just a credential that government agencies are required to use for access control? PIV may not be moving into the private sector as rapidly as some proponents predicted years ago, but there is movement in that direction. Rob Zivney of Identive Group, David Belchick of Citibank, and Don Erickson, CEO of SIA, did a great educational session at TechSec...

Citibank, CIV, David Belchick, Don Erickson, Identive Group, PIV, PIV-I, Rob Zivney, Smart Card Alliance Identity Council and Access Control Council


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Monitoring Matters

Three out of four for Monitronics; Tweets for SIAC

February 29, 2012Rich Miller

Make it three out of four for Monitronics. The Dallas-based alarm monitoring firm was recently named Frost & Sullivan's North American Company of the Year for 2011, adding to similar awards the company won in 2008 and 2010. Frost & Sullivan praised Monitronics for maximizing value to clients by expanding its customer service operations and streamlining internal processes, resulting in record-low attrition for the year. The market researchers also cited the company's “concerted efforts”...

Bruce Mungiguerra, Dave Simon, Frost & Sullivan, Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), Stan Martin


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Residential

Richard Ginsburg new CEO of Devcon Security

February 29, 2012Tess Nacelewicz

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.—Golden Gate Capital, the owner of Devcon Security—a super-regional based here that has been rapidly expanding as a national player in the past year—has named Richard Ginsburg as Devcon's new CEO. Ginsburg formerly was president and CEO of Protection 1, one of the nation's largest security companies, from 2001 to 2010. Ginsburg joined Protection 1 as president and CEO in 2001 and is credited with turning the company around, greatly improving its operating...

Christopher Munday, Devcon Security, Golden Gate Capital, Pinnacle Security, Protection One, Richard Ginsburg


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Commercial

Vector partners with Spacenet

February 28, 2012Whit Richardson

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Vector Security, based here, has announced a strategic partnership with Spacenet that allows the security company to offer managed network services to its national retail customers.As retailers are leveraging more security tools to gather valuable business intelligence using their network, their available bandwidth is growing scarce, Dave Merrick, Vector's marketing director, told Security Director News. At the same time, information security demands and PCI compliance are putting...

Dave Merrick, Spacenet, Vector Security


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This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)

2GIG's “sleek” panel is “elegant,” The WSJ says

February 27, 2012Tess Nacelewicz

The Wall Street Journal just gave a nice nod to 2GIG, touting the 2GIG Alarm Kit in a recent technology article. In the piece entitled, “Safe at Home,” which is about easy-to-install, tech-friendly security systems and written by Michael Hsu, the WSJ singles out 2GIG's alarm system in this way: You can't judge an alarm system by how it looks, but the 2GIG Alarm Kit's control panel is so much more elegant than any other security solution out there, it's hard to justify devoting the wall...

2GIG, Michael Hsu, The Wall Street Journal


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