Archive: February 2018

SEATTLE—Amazon has agreed to buy video doorbell maker Ring, the companies announced on Tuesday, a move that makes sense for both Amazon and Ring on many levels. The deal, which Reuters was reporting at more than $1 billion, is Amazon's second acquisition in the security space in just the last few months, as the company purchased security camera provider Blink for $90 million in December. Amazon is expected to continue—and build on—the Ring brand, as it has with some of its other...

A couple of months back, I got the chance to speak to Matt Sailor, CEO of IC Realtime, about the company's new natural language video search platform Ella. Yesterday, the company announced its first update: including a time-lapse compiler and creation tool. “With this new update, users can create a time-lapse video from a range of time or by a specific query to produce more detailed and relevant results. The same natural language processing included within Ella is leveraged to create time-lapse...

DALLAS—MONI Smart Security recently announced an exclusive, long-term trademark licensing agreement with The Brink's Company, bringing about a complete rebranding of MONI and LiveWatch to BRINKS Home Security.“It's a really mutually beneficial deal. They wanted a national partner that would really leverage their brand, and we wanted a brand that people knew,” MONI CEO Jeff Gardner, soon to be CEO of BRINKS Home Security, told Security Systems News. MONI dealers will go to market...

FORT WORTH, Texas—HAWK Security Services, a member of the My Alarm Center family of brands based here, recently announced the opening of its newest office in Plano, Texas, joining the company's existing Texas branches in Fort Worth, Tyler, Houston and San Antonio.“We are thrilled to be opening our fifth office in Texas,” Megan MacDonald, VP of marketing, told Security Systems News in an email interview. “Hawk has experienced tremendous growth and continues to set the bar high...

Teresa Gonzalez became the president of United Central Control in 2008. Lydia Security Monitoring acquired UCC in January 2016 and Gonzalez continues to lead the brand. Gonzalez talked with Security Systems News in early December about her home security system and what she likes about it.What kind of system do you have?I have a … 2GIG with Alarm.com. I have thermostats and lights, video cameras.Why this particular setup?At the time, 2GIG was a very user-friendly panel. I've had it for a couple years...

In today's built environment—be it new construction or retrofit—project teams are increasingly designing toward specific goals for their buildings. A major trend within these goals is sustainability. In addition to seeking out ways to achieve LEED certification or meeting Living Building Challenge standards, this trend looks to ensure a building is differentiated by considering its impact on the wellness, economics, and social justice of the people and the planet.Put quite simply, progressive...

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Gorilla Technology, a video IoT platform company based here, recently announced a partnership with VMS provider Airship, based in Redmond, Wash.“It's a win-win partnership on both technology/products and business,” Dr. Spincer Koh, CEO of Gorilla Technology, told Security Systems News. “Gorilla offers end-to-end hybrid edge-server/cloud AI solutions, provides 40-plus analytics for real time and offline scenarios across security intelligence and business intelligence....

LAS VEGAS—ACRE, a global provider of security products and solutions for the access control, intrusion, smart traffic and video surveillance markets, announced the appointment of Ronald Virden as chief operating officer, effective April 1, 2018.With extensive experience in senior leadership roles with global entities, Virden will help to elevate ACRE's position in the electronic security marketplace, seek new opportunities for growth, and strengthen the momentum following recent strategic deals.“Following...

RodGarner.jpg Security Systems News, along with the entire security industry, was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mountain Alarm's Rod Garner on Feb. 18, 2018, as a result of complications from surgery. Rod's sons, Eric and Josh, reached out to SSN by email, noting that their father, Rodney Grant Garner, of Pleasant View, Utah, “returned home to our Father in Heaven.” Born on June 11, 1948, Rod Garner began working with his father in law at Mountain Alarm in 1973....

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Bates Security, a commercial and residential security company based here with a branch in Florida, announced this week the recent acquisition of Eastern Kentucky-based ABCO Security from company founder Robert Welch. This is Bates Security's first acquisition following the $10 million credit facility it secured at the end of October from Capital One. With the acquisition, Bates Security will be adding more than 1,650 customers to its customer base.Jeremy Bates, president of Bates...