SSI serves security installing contractors providing systems and services; surveillance, access control, biometrics, fire alarm and home control/automation. Coverage in commercial and residential product applications, designs, techniques, operations.
Issue link: https://securitysales.epubxp.com/i/90752
A PRIMER ON WI-FI AND Z-WAVE work together well," says Morgan. CONTROL ON THE GO VIA MOBILE DEVICES It's important to realize that many of these home automation-type capabilities are already being off ered to the masses. You're bound to come across at least one television commercial each night detailing such features being off ered by a local phone carrier or cable provider. Wi-Fi is the key for dealers who are looking to quickly introduce themselves into the game. But they still need to fi nd additional ways to close the deal with customers. To that end, some manufacturers are pulling out additional incentives to help security professionals sweeten the deal with tech-savvy homeowners. Honeywell's LYNX Touch 5100, for instance, off ers Wi-Fi with Android tablets to give end users an alternate option to control their security systems, no matter where they are in their homes. For example, tablets that serve as second keypads allow consumers to do everything from simply checking the weather or traffi c conditions to actually arming the system — all from one mobile device. "I found the compatibility with the Android tablet to be very useful. I actually end up using it more than the primary keypad," says Morgan. "It's easy to access when you're going to bed at the end of the day; you can just arm the system right from there. Phillips notes another side " benefi t: Some dealers who struggle with homeowners about the actual placement of the panel will fi nd the Android tablet to be a nice compromise. Off ering a mobile tablet for convenience tends to make them more agreeable. LOWER PRICE POINT REACHES BROADER AUDIENCE Aside from reducing installation time for dealers, and helping to build an easier bridge to advanced functions for consumers, there's another key benefi t of Wi-Fi that can mean good news for Wi-Fi is a popular technology that allows an electronic device to ctronic device to exchange data wirelessly (using radio waves) over a computerver a computer network, including high-speed Internet connections. The W tions. The Wi-Fi t Alliance defi nes Wi-Fi as any "wireless local area network (WLAN) products that are basedt th t on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.11 standards." A device that can use Wi-Fi (such as a personal computer, video game console, smart- phone, tablet or digital audio player) can connect to a network resource such as the In- ternet via a wireless network access point. Such an access point (or hotspot) has a range of about 65 feet indoors and a greater range outdoors. Hotspot coverage can comprise an area as small as a single room with walls that block radio waves or as large as many k (WLAN) d b d square miles, which is achieved by using multiple overlapping access points. Z-Wave is a mesh networking technology developed in 1999 to create a standard for wireless radio frequency (RF) communication for home devices. The key to the technol- ogy is that Z-Wave products are designed using a family of low-cost, low-power RF trans- ceiver chips embedded with Z-Wave. Because all Z-Wave-enabled devices use the same chip family, they communicate using a common communication protocol. Z-Wave communication is modeled after computer network protocols and is designed to afford high reliability. Z-Wave devices also act as signal repeaters, re-broadcasting signals to additional devices on the network. Z-Wave products enable a wide variety of devices to communicate, including those related to lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment centers, energy management, security and access control, and building automation. — Compiled by SSI all involved: price. "If we can provide our customers with a solution that has a lower upfront cost, it makes us more competitive, " says Phillips. "And with a simple solution that also has Wi-Fi connectivity, we have an edge. T e technology allows dealers to " lower their installation costs, which is another key way to diff erentiate their off erings with cost-conscious homeowners. While this is, of course, good news to a consumer during an economic recession it can also broaden the dealer's prospective customer base. "T e price point has made it popular with everybody," says Morgan. Because of the easier system operation, having a broader customer base isn't as complicated as it may once have been. In the past, dealers may have had to worry about older customers becoming intimidated by newer, fl ashier technology. But easier-to-use, self-contained systems are appealing for a wider variety of audiences today. "Age can defi nitely be a factor with these types of systems; the younger generation tends to pick it up quicker, says Philips. "But the newer models are so easy to use, anyone can operate them. " As one example of this generational tendency, dealers have typically found that once consumers know they have the power to arm/disarm their systems remotely, they're willing to make the switch to the new technology. T is willingness to embrace new technology could further pay dividends down the road by opening the door for dealers to off er additional services in the future. For instance, some dealers have already started to embrace full- blown remote services as the next step as an opportunity to grow RMR. In fact, if Wi-Fi does prove to be a key advantage in the alarm communications space, more dealers will be better positioned to fend off competition from new entrants. T is means more dealers will be able to view the competition as an opportunity they can take advantage of rather than a threat they are defenseless against. " Rob Puric is Director of Product Management and Marketing for Honeywell Security Group. He can be contacted at rob.puric.honeywell.com. NOVEMBER 2012 / SECURITYSALES.COM / 45