Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/37034
SECURITY SYSTEMS NEWS AUGUST 2011 www.securitysystemsnews.com Tyco in talks to acquire Visonic Continued from page 1 company, has agreed to sell his entire stake.” Security Systems News reported in May that Tyco was reportedly about to close a $110 million deal. On May 18, Tyco International CEO Ed Breen was quoted as tell- ing investors at a Florida confer- ence that Tyco was about to close COMCAST Continued from page 30 Systems News. “Providing a broad- band pipe and phone service to the home is one thing; relying on a trusted brand to help pro- tect your family in your home is entirely different. We believe we do this better than anyone else,” he added. Mitch Bowling, SVP and GM of new businesses for Comcast, said they’re offering a “compelling security and home control prod- uct ... that will broaden the mar- ket [for these kinds of services.]” He added that Comcast has mil- lions of customers and Comcast made the decision to go to market with a fourth core product that “extends beyond security” and provides convenience, energy management, money savings and delivers peace of mind. Johnson called the Comcast partnership, combined with the ADT partnership, “a huge mile- stone for iControl.” He said this “creates a dynamic that’s the beginning of a tipping point: We believe customers will very soon begin demanding security solu- tions that are interactive.” John- son said a “passive solution that’s solely for the dispatch of police and fire will no longer be enough. This will now be the table stake, the absolute minimum, for what people will demand for their $30 a month.” The solution that iControl developed for Comcast took sev- eral years to develop, Johnson said because it had to “fit into the cable way of installing and supporting.” The companies had to develop the technology, “an integrated touchscreen and security system that worked over broadband and cell, so there’s always dual path of communications,” he said. “We created a single device that sits on a countertop that is the entire security system and monitors all of the sensors in the home and communicates status of broad- band and cell.” The system can be viewed and controlled remotely, and connected to cameras and thermometers. They had to devel- op a line of sensors based on Zig- bee technology. IControl also had to ensure that the system would work with multiple hardware partners. SSN a deal. “We’re actually close on one. I’m really excited about it. It’s only $110 million but it’s technol- ogy that actually has revenue with it and that really fits into one of our core platforms and will really give us a competitive advantage,” the report said. Visonic recently announced a deal where it would embed its security products with Zigbee tech- nology so that its products would work with iControl’s OpenHome system. ADT’s interactive services product Pulse is powered by the iControl platform. Tyco is one of several major investors in iControl. During a November 2010 inter- view, Avi Barir, Visonic president and CEO told Security Systems News that Visonic was changing its wireless technology, ramping up its North American operations and that it was ready “to compete with the giants [manufacturers like Honeywell and UTCFS].” He said Visonic had the North Ameri- can market in mind as a “major target for this launch of its new wireless products.” Visonic, had revenues of $85.5 million in business worldwide in 2009. North American revenues SUPPLIERS 31 accounted for about 13 percent ($11.1 million). The company manufacturers security systems, PERS, and home management systems, PowerG-based and PowerCode-based wireless sen- sors, keyfobs, and sirens; wired detectors and CCTV motion con- trol systems. It was founded in 1973 and list- ed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2006. Shares were up on reports of the sale. SSN ® Your Competitive Edge. ® It’s our business to help your business do more business. Profit from the recognition, representation, knowledge and opportunity gained through the nation’s largest electronic life safety, security and systems industry association. For more than 60 years, your colleagues have found that they can rely on us for the training, government representation, discounted products and services, industry information and guidance they need to grow and succeed. And when given a choice, your potential customers will want to do business with a member of ESA! Put the power of ESA behind your business. To learn more, call (888) 447-1689 or visit www.ESAweb.org