[AeceeJeenGrant]

Home security is reportedly going to have a new player on the field as AT&T prepares to offer their home security services in an attempt to give the current leader in the market, ADT, a run for their money. AT&T’s, Digital Life, will give customers the ability to monitor recorded footage of their residence, as well as allowing them to adjust the lighting and environmental settings through the use of a remote device, such as a smartphone or personal computer. With declining sales growth in the phone and pay-TV market, AT&T is joining the ranks of Comcast Corporation and Verizon Communications in hoping to generate additional sales revenue in what is being referred to as the smart-home market.

In 2010, AT&T purchased the developer of the systems hardware, Xanboo, for an undisclosed amount and reportedly, will be able to afford their customers more simplified and internet based control of all home monitoring functions. According to a report, home security is a growing industry with only one out of five homes equipped with a home security monitoring system, as opposed to the phone industry, where nearly all adults have a cell phone.

This post has been edited by coastie65: 22 May 2012 - 04:05 AM
Reason for edit: Removed spam link

[mjd420nova]

Since the boom in the multifunction devices and their marriage to PCs, home security has become just another offering by those companies willing to support the monitoring end of the process. ADT sets up systems within a home or busines and uses phonelines to notify a monitoring office of any abnormal events. ATT already provides those lines, thus the monthly charge for the service. Myself, I use an old IBM AT system with four ASCII port cards that have analog to digital converters to monitor various levels instead of just on/off logic. The home was rewired in the mid 80's and logic lines and analog cables were pulled throughout the home. It monitors levels of ultrasonic, infrared and two types of smoke detectors. A recent addition was a CO, carbon monoxide sensor was added but only an on/off logic was offered. Besides the security aspect, I added current sensors in each outlet/socket to prevent circuit overloads and when paired with the other internal sensors can be used to track activities throughout the home, even when I'm not home. Current limits can be set to prevent usage of high current devices where they shouldn't be used.