Residential

DALLAS—International research firm Parks Associates finds 67 percent of security system owners, which equates to 20 percent of all U.S. broadband households, have an interactive system that allows remote connection and control capabilities. “Interactive features are now standard on both professionally installed and DIY systems as consumers embrace IoT-based features for all devices in the home,” Parks Associates President Elizabeth Parks said in the announcement. “Our research...

DAVENPORT, Iowa—Per Mar Security Services, a provider of total security solutions for residential and commercial clients based here, has acquired Monument Electronics based in Merrillville, Ind. “We feel lucky to have been selected by Carol Green to serve her customers going forward,” Per Mar Security Services’ COO Brian Duffy said in the announcement. “She clearly cares about them, and we look forward to getting to know them as well.” Monument Electronics,...

DALLAS— Brinks Home Security announced that its Board of Directors has appointed William Niles as CEO, effective Sept. 30, 2020. Niles had served as the company’s interim CEO since February 2020. “I am honored by the Board’s decision to place its trust in me and the incredibly talented and diverse team we have assembled over the past several months,” said Mr. Niles. “We are excited about the future of the smart home security market and the role we are going...

BOCA RATON, Fla.—ADT and Google announced a long-term partnership with the goal of creating an end-to-end smart home solution that combines Google’s technology platform with ADT’s installation, service and professional monitoring network.Google will make a $450 million investment in ADT, which equates to 6.6 percent of ADT’s outstanding aggregate common equity, in exchange for shares of a newly created Class B common stock having all of the rights and preferences of ADT's common stock...

BOCA RATON, Fla.—ADT announced it has been named as the premier provider of smart home security and automation services for D.R. Horton, the nation’s largest homebuilder by volume.“As the leading smart home security provider, ADT is well positioned to serve D.R. Horton now and for years to come,” said Jim DeVries, President and CEO of ADT. “We are committed to bringing innovative smart home security and world class customer service to the expanding residential new construction market.”D.R....

FRISCO, Texas—The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a controversial ordinance enacted by the city of Sandy Springs, Ga., that fines alarm companies for false alarm generated by their customers.The Georgia Electronic Life Safety & Systems Association (GELSSA), A-Com Security Co. LLP and Safecom Security Solutions Inc. were the plaintiffs in the case.The legal challenge was organized by the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), which has managed all aspects of the effort, from...

DALLAS—Monitronics International, Inc. and its subsidiaries, which includes Brinks Home Security, announced it has acquired approximately 114,000 residential alarm monitoring contracts from Protect America, Inc., totaling approximately $4.6M in recurring monthly revenue (RMR). “This transaction fits neatly into our philosophy of acquiring profitable accounts at scale and holding them for life,” William Niles, interim CEO, Brinks Home Security, said in the announcement. “The company [Brinks...

BOCA RATON, Fla.—ADT is developing a solution for the home security industry’s need to adapt to the 3G sunset, which is scheduled for February 2022. Through a strategic partnership with technology startup CellBounce, ADT anticipates a user-installed, plug-and-play solution for the 3G-to-4G conversion will be ready by late summer 2020.The technology and product could apply to most of the 6 million 3G-powered home security systems in the United States.“We believe CellBounce is the most cost-effective...

TYSONS, Va.—Founded in 2004 and acquired by Alarm.com in 2015, SecurityTrax, a back-office, cloud-based platform built for the security industry and automation providers to manage all critical operational tasks, has recently and diligently been working on major upgrades and a complete redesign, all with the end user top of mind. Now, workflows are streamlined; new tech tools, dashboards and integrations give access to business performance data; and a simplified pricing structure has been adopted.“The...

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.—Voice control device shipments in 2020 will grow globally by close to 30 percent over 2019, according to global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research.Last year, 141 million voice control smart home device shipped worldwide and, despite the key China market being impacted during the first quarter of 2020, ABI said the value of voice control during the pandemic will remain strong.“A smarter home can be a safer home,” Jonathan Collins, research director at ABI Research,...