Intrusion

AT&T to Test New Home Security Service This Summer

May 07, 2012 | Comments (11) | Post a comment

ATLANTA — AT&T will begin trials for its new home automation and security service this summer in Dallas and Atlanta, reports the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

The telecom announced its Digital Life Services unit in November. The service will help consumers monitor homes from intrusion to water damage.

The technology comes from Xanboo, a home automation specialist that AT&T acquired in 2010. The Xanboo central control panel can connect wirelessly with cameras, thermostats, appliance controls, lights and sensors for doors, windows, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, according to AT&T. The panel also allows consumers to use any Web-enabled device, regardless of wireless carrier, to remotely monitor their homes. The panel can also connect to AT&T’s wireless data network as a backup.

The installations and services will be sold at AT&T stores, although the telecom has not released the price of the package. The company is currently in the process of hiring more employees to support the service.

Venturing into the home automation and security business could potentially add $1 billion to AT&T’s annual revenue, reports Reuters.

AT&T is one of many telecom and cable companies seeking to break into the electronic security business. Its rival, Verizon Wireless, launched its Home Monitoring and Control service last fall. Comcast, Time Warner Cable and telecom Frontier Communications also offer home security services.

Read more about: AT&T, Cable Providers, Home Automation, Telecom Companies

Review / Comment

It makes sense that AT&T would place a standardized application like home security and automation on its data and voice lines -- really a better concept than the data center services they tried to play in a few years back -- this is a nice fit for them. Imagine any national or international business or members of residential groups like AAA, AARP, etc., taking group rates to get a reasonable cost for such services which can of course be easily augmented to include competing systems with Lifeline and other medical monitoring "aging in place" solutions. Like ADT they could even have agents or channel partners too. I think its a great move for AT&T and it lets their network have more value than just something to compete with Verizon and Sprint. Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page

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Jeff Beauchaine
May 7, 2012

Alarm industry, please welcome AT&T. Still think the telecoms are going away? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? Attrition Busters has been sending out this warning for many years only to fall on many deaf ears. Are you training your team to fight back and win? Your window of procrastinaiton is closing fast! Preact or react the choice is yours! Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page.

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Bob Harris
May 7, 2012

Sadly in my experience with many security companies IP remains something they consider expensive and not worth their time to learn -- they will go to their graves holding their old analog gear. There are exceptions of course and they will survive or even partner with AT&T. AT&T has a big advantage in that they are IP from the beginning and can leverage the cost of their communications to convince customers to make the leap to IP. Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page.

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Jeff Beauchaine
May 7, 2012

This is not new as historically at one time ADT & AT&T shared the same president and for many years Western Electric manufactured the direct wire burglar alarm boxes for ADT. Once upon a time all signals were sent via the AT&T leased copper phone wires and the AT&T offices did all of the trouble shooting and repairs. Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page.

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Henry L. Homrighaus, Jr.
May 8, 2012

I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the last time AT&T sold alarm equipment back in the late 80's / early 90's. That stuff was crap. Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page.

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Steve Burman
May 10, 2012

AT&T had a disaster for the brand with their last entry into the home security business...seems like they attracted every ethically challanged alarm dealer in the country who preyed on the elderly and uninformed buyer with bogus sales tatics. They will also find out that security is far more labor intensive than they will like... Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page.

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Bill Glover
May 10, 2012

It'S only a matter of time to see if the business consultants at AT&T have done there homework since their last venture many years ago. As Bill mentioned above the labor intensive / efforts it takes to keep long term clients as happy clients requires a foundation customer support that can be challenging which for the amount of recurring monitoring revenue can be questionable. Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page.

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Rick Ingalls
May 10, 2012

There are still many businesses and home owners that have a bad taste yet from their last stab at security. I agree with Bob Harris that you do need to preact and in reality should have been doing that all along. Whether it is AT&T or a cable company you are competeting with you just need to do everything better. Too many companies fail at customer service. Anyone can sell the same equipment but its the service and knowledge that makes the difference. If you are delivering to you customers you should be fine if not you will be giving AT&T their first customers. I work with network equipment everyday and while I consider it a great method of alarm transmission I also know it has its problems that are out of your control. In my opinion AT&T will be very limited on roll out due to reliability issues they need to address. Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page.

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Kevin Oxner
May 10, 2012

I think this is a big problem for small security companies. To not worry about a "big box" type of company coming into the market is a big mistake. Small security companies need to prepare for people moving to AT&T. Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page.

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Thomas Callarik
May 21, 2012

I really doubt AT&T will impact my business much if any at all. I was doing smart homes in the 90's so this is really nothing new except for the fact that smart homes have evolved a lot since the 90's. I take care of my customers and have built a good relationship with my customers by going beyond expectations and keeping in front of them by many different methods. I do not worry about large companies at all when it comes to competition. I know I will do it better and I know my customers agree. I have been doing this for over 27 years and have seen these isssues come and go. The bottom line to any publicy traded company is the bottom line. Quality control and local regulations will most likely be the biggest pains for AT&T. I really do not think the systems are plug and play. There is a lot of programming involved in these integrated homes. In the end it is all about what I do rather than what some national company does. If I am offering the services my customers want or need and do it better than them everything else falls into place. AT&T re-entering this market does not concern me in the least. If they can't show a profit they will scrap it like they have done with other projects because they must answer to the investors. Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page.

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Kevin Oxner
May 21, 2012

We need to rally together and stop these large companies from encroaching on our livelihood. They have access to countless customer database and all they need to do is spend a buck or two and slip in a flyer in everyone's monthly bill. They have TV, high speed and telephone and now they continue to want security and it would be easy for them to do. Back in the good ole days NBFAA went to Washington and state capitals to let our voice be heard! The large companies may not feel this as much as the little guy. There is a lot of great companies that are sub contracting and selling their contracts. They are the ones out hitting the pavement and trying to make a living. STOP AT&T!!! Let them put the back bone together and get their fiber optics under control. I have yet to see any landlines stable and consistent! Also they have began changing copper to fiber optics....that's a joke and service is worse. It is not changing service once it hits the house but the back bone sucks and techs are all scratching the butts wondering how to get it 2 blocks...personal experience and the DSL is not at the speeds the claim... I could go on and on... Comment via SSI's LinkedIn page.

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Hopkins Guy
May 21, 2012

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