First Alert Soars

Nov. 21, 2009
What can I say about Honeywell’s First Alert Professional dealer program? It’s hard to put it all down because there is so much to say. Even in this tumultuous economy the program is thriving and still attracting the cream of the crop of systems integrators. And even after 20 years it’s still going strong and leading the industry in technology and fire and life safety trends. I’m currently attending the annual conference and this year is special because it marks 20 years since a small group of security dealers met in Chicago to talk about how to facilitate a program such as this—and it’s now one of the most successful programs ever with 350 dealers in 500 locations. I’m going to detail what I learned at the convention, held in the gorgeous city of San Diego, in the December issue of Security Dealer & Integrator magazine, so watch for it. But for now, let me rattle off some of the exciting times at the first day of the convention, and there are many. • Joe Sausa, president of First Alert Professional opened the general session with a fine focus on the changing technology and communication in the industry and how First Alert dealers are embracing the change, but most importantly, how the people and integrators inside the organization have fostered business success by networking and establishing camaraderie. • Honeywell President Ron Rothman talked about how technology is changing the industry and First Alert will help its dealers make those changes. He said phone lines are truly going away and consumers are making a choice and it’s for mobile technology. • John Bourque of HB Alarms was presented a special 20-year recognition award. “The past 20 years have allowed us to network; one of the strongest assets of the First Alert program,” Bourque said. • Some $50,000 of Honeywell products were presented to attendees who were selected by their business cards and played various Wii games to win prizes. • The ever-popular Total Connect program will add IP video to its offering in January 2010 while extending the program deeper into the world of video analytics. Wireless outdoor IP cameras will be added to the mix in the second quarter of 2010. Total Connect Video Services are undergoing beta testing now and will allow users to view streaming video at 25 to 30 frames per second. • The #1 priority of the AlarmNet program will be to get a new fire communicator based on GSM radio to the market in 2010. Two-way voice is on the roadmap for 2010 as well, according to Gordon Hope. Look for more in the December issue of SD&I magazine.