Residential
UPDATE: ADT announces executive leadership changes, Q1 results
May 5, 2021SSN Staff
BOCA RATON, Fla.—ADT Inc. announced several changes to its leadership, starting with the retirement of Jim Boyce, president, chief business development officer, effective May 31, 2021. The company also announced its Q1 financial results, showing continued recovery and growth and the commercial side of the business.
Leadership Changes
The company is grateful for Boyce’s leadership, wisdom and dedication, and for his many contributions as CEO of Defenders and its successful integration...
Vivint to pay $20M to settle FTC claims it misused consumer credit reports
April 29, 2021Paul Ragusa, Editor
PROVO, Utah—Smart home security and monitoring company Vivint Smart Homes Inc. has agreed to pay $20 million to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) allegations that the Utah-based firm misused credit reports to help unqualified customers obtain financing for the company’s products and services.
Under the settlement, Vivint will pay a $15 million civil penalty and an additional $5 million to compensate injured consumers.
In a complaint filed by the Department of Justice on behalf...
My Alarm Center to restructure under Chapter 11 protection
April 29, 2021SSN Staff
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.—Home security provider, My Alarm Center, filed for Chapter 11 protection this week, with 100 percent of its senior lenders and other key stakeholders agreeing to support the company’s prepackaged plan of reorganization that provides for elimination of approximately $235 million of legacy debt obligations, the company told Security Systems News.
My Alarm Center said it will continue to operate in the “ordinary course of business” during the restructuring...
ADT brings trademark suit against Amazon’s Ring
April 27, 2021SSN Staff
BOCA RATON, Fla.—ADT has brought an action for willful trademark infringement, unfair competition, and related violations against Ring LLC (Ring), an Amazon company and provider of smart home security devices.
In March 2021, the complaint asserts, Ring adopted a blue octagon mark that is virtually indistinguishable from ADT’s iconic blue octagon mark, which is protected under numerous federal trademark registrations. ADT’s blue octagon is iconic in the security market, proudly...
Resideo acquires regional distributor Norfolk Wire & Electronics
April 2, 2021SSN Staff
AUSTIN, Texas—Resideo Technologies, Inc. announced it has acquired privately held Norfolk Wire & Electronics ("Norfolk"), based in Richmond, Va. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Norfolk was founded in 1985 and is a leading regional distributor of security, telecom, network and audio-video (AV) related products, supplies and tools. With 11 full-service retail locations and a 43,000-sq.-ft. distribution center, Norfolk serves customers across the mid-Atlantic region, and will be...
Brinks Home announces new long-term contract with B&D Security
March 22, 2021SSN Staff
DALLAS, Texas—Brinks Home, one of the largest home security and alarm monitoring companies in North America, has announced a new agreement with B&D Security that extends their partnership for another five years.
The new agreement will help both companies expand further into the commercial market, improve Brinks Home’s profitability through a reduction in the upfront cost to acquire accounts, and provide B&D Security with an increased share of long-term revenues.
“This agreement...
Yale and August integrate with DoorBird IP Video Door Stations
March 16, 2021SSN Staff
SAN FRANCISCO—Smart lock leaders, Yale and August, announced an integration with DoorBird’s IP Video Door Stations. Customers can now connect any Wi-Fi connected August or Yale smart lock to a DoorBird IP Video Door Station for a seamless “approach to entry” experience.
“We’re proud of our robust list of integration partners, helping you connect your locks to voice assistants, lights, alarm systems and even vacuums,” the companies said in the announcement....
Home is where the security is
March 15, 2021Cory Harris, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine—Knowing that you and your family are safe and secure in your own home offers peace of mind, especially if you have the necessary technology to ensure that everyone in your house is protected.
Gone are the days where looking through a peephole, answering a doorbell or pressing a button on a wall intercom were pretty much the only options to verify a person’s identity. We’ve also advanced past the simple security camera with a motion sensor that sends alerts to...
abode launches standalone HD security camera with 24/7 recording
March 9, 2021SSN Staff
PALO ALTO, Calif.—abode, a Nice group company and provider of do-it-yourself (DIY) home security solutions, announced the launch of the abode Cam 2, a compact smart home security camera packed with the features and versatility customers need to safeguard and monitor their home.
The abode Cam 2 is available for pre-order today at a special introductory price of $29.99 and includes support for 24/7 video recording, as well as look-back capability for triggered events.
According...
ADT issues statement on Vivint lawsuit
March 4, 2021SSN Staff
BOCA RATON, Fla.—ADT issued an official response to the recent news that Vivint Smart Home has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against them in the United States District Court for the District of Utah.
ADT told Security Systems News, “On Feb. 25, 2021, Vivint, Inc. filed a complaint against ADT Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division, claiming that ADT has infringed certain of Vivint’s patents. ADT believes the claims asserted by...