launched ADT Pulse (currently avail- able only in the United States), providing notification of alarms and se- lected events via e-mail and text messages as well as video clips. It pro- vides viewing of premises through wireless cameras, thus allowing users to watch secure real-time video or stored video clips of events from monitored areas of the home or business. All this, in addition to lifestyle-based features, such as adjusting thermostats, control- ling lights and appliances or setting schedules to automate them. “Recent technological advances have helped make these systems more af- fordable and accessible to the average home or business owner,” says Stennet. Chris Ryan, product manager, mo- bile apps, for Tyco Security Products, points out that today’s apps allow cus- tomers to extend their access to video surveillance systems, as well as to physi- cal access control and other business management functions.
“Having the functionality to re- motely control PTZ cameras in real time or search recorded video from anywhere and not just in your organi- zation’s command centre extends the reach of your security and minimizes time and equipment needed on site,” he states from his office in Westford, Mass., just north of Boston. “[For end users,] being able to access security data in the field or elsewhere on a mobile device can add value to your security system, by enabling other departments or business functions within an organi- zation to have mobile access to surveillance video or other security data useful to their operations. Without a doubt, mobile applications are chang- ing how security professionals conduct business on a daily basis.” Another company seizing on the growth opportunity of security mobile technology is Vancouver-based Avigilon, which designs, manufactures and mar- kets HD video surveillance systems. It recently introduced its Avigilon Control Center Mobile (ACC Mobile), a new application that enables security profes- sionals to connect to the Avigilon Control Center Network Video Man-
agement Software (NVMS) platform over any IP wireless network with Apple devices, including the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. ACC Mobile can be con- nected to an unlimited number of servers and cameras, expanding access to video surveillance data for greater cover- age and remote monitoring. “We spent the past 18 months devel- oping our app to ensure it’s full featured for video management,” notes Keith Marett, a spokesperson for Avig- ilon. “By providing remote access to HD surveillance video, ACC Mobile gives security professionals the tools they need to efficiently secure the en- tire site, expediting response times and ensuring investigative success.”
CONSUMER ADVANTAGE For consumers, the security industry’s interest and pursuit of mobile apps is a huge victory. According to Ipsos Reid’s recent Mobil-ology Study of Smart- phone, Tablet and eReader Users in Canada, Canadians are app crazy. For example: • though only 23 per cent of online adult Canadians own a smart phone and just three per cent own a tablet, 75 per cent of mobile device users have downloaded at least one app to their mobile device;
• 71 per cent of which were smart phone users and 80 per cent of which were tablet users; and
• the number of people downloading apps for smart phones and tablets translates to 16 per cent and two per cent of the online adult population in Canada respectively: survey predicts these numbers will inevitably go up.
So what does all this mean to Cana- dian security dealer and integrators? Well, for one thing, it is proof that those companies that brush up on their mobile apps skill sets and knowledge now will surely be in better position to fully serve their clientele as time moves on. “It’s a booming market and savvy [security] dealers want to understand the technology, so they can explain it to their customers,” nods Kostas Mellos, commercial leader, video and transmis-
sion for Interlogix, a division of UTC Fire & Security. “More dealers are get- ting on the apps bandwagon and because it’s a very visual technology, dealers are providing their sales forces with iPads and iPhones to demonstrate to the customer what the app can do. This helps close the deal.” Kirk MacDowell, Interlogix’s resi- dential sales leader, adds that today’s security mobile apps are fast, robust, user-friendly and secure from an IT perspective.
“About 19 to 23 per cent of homes in North America have security sys- tems, and that market hasn’t expanded over the past 10 years,” he says. “Mo- bile apps offer great opportunities to drive growth to the security market. Customers want the technology and dealers are responding.” It’s a view echoed by Jimmy Palat- soukas, senior product manager for Genetec, headquartered in Montreal, Que. “About 80 per cent of our dealers have shown an interest in mobile apps technology, and are actively demoing our apps to end users, such as law en- forcement and private security,” he insists. “As mobile phones get more powerful, it becomes easier for us to deploy our technology.”
A global leader in the physical secu- rity and public safety industry, Genetec has expanded its Security Center prod- uct functionality with its Security Center Mobile feature. The new app allows organizations to equip their se- curity personnel with the latest RIM BlackBerry, Apple and Android-com- patible devices so they can connect back to their Security Center unified platform over any wireless IP network. As for the future, it looks like the
sky’s the limit. Security-related apps will continue to get smarter, providing more features for video playback and video analytics, alarm system operation, access control and energy management. “The emergence of security mobile apps make for exciting times in our in- dustry,” affirms UTC’s Mellos.
Jack Kohane is a freelance writer in Toronto, Ont.
www.securityproductscanada.com| SECURITY PRODUCTS CANADA 23
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