Greg Conran has joined Bosch QLD in the role of QLD and NT CCTV Specialist. Greg has worked in many senior management positions and has an extensive knowledge of PC based and standalone DVR systems, networking procedures and Cameras. His experience in large scale projects, integrating CCTV control rooms and WAN network solutions both in Australia and Overseas will add to our Bosch knowledge pool and assist your next project. Meanwhile Todd Wainwright joins the company’s National Technical Support Team As Team Leader of the newly centralised National Technical Support Team. According to Bosch, Todd recognises the need for strong and efficient delivery of technical support on the company’s complete range of products and with the introduction of the 1-3000-BOSCH hotline, his department aim to provide consistent and effective services.

ADI will begin the international expansion by establishing 31 offices in 11 countries. The initial countries served will be: The Netherlands, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovak Republic, and South Africa. “We want to be the partner of choice for security dealers and installers throughout Europe,” said Ben Cornett, president of Honeywell Security. “Our strategy is to help our customers grow with the products they need, and also provide the best possible service and support. ADI International will answer these needs by allowing customers easy access to a wide range of products throughout Europe, with enhanced delivery service and outstanding support.” ADI is already a successful distributor in North America. According to Tom Polson, president of ADI: “ADI offers customers its own unique blend of convenience and service. We also offer a wide choice of products from hundreds of security manufacturers, providing a one stop shopping solution.” Michael Flink will lead ADI International operations in Europe from its headquarters in Purmerend, The Netherlands. Flink formerly was vice president of marketing and operations for ADI in North America. Prior to that, he was a marketing executive at Radio Shack and other consumer electronics companies.

The casinos will install monitoring systems for RFID chips that are going to be used instead of ordinary gaming chips. The idea is that RFID chips will help the casinos detect fraud and counterfeiting. Casinos also say it’s possible that the RFID technology could be used in the future to track players and reward big spenders – no word on privacy issues at present.

Group 4 Securicor has been working closely with the London 2012 bid team and the police to conduct a risk audit of the proposed site for the Olympic Park in the Lea Valley. The audit formed part of a presentation on security issues made today by Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to the IOC delegation. A team of risk auditors from Group 4 Securicor has been working in partnership with the police and the bid team from the start of the project to develop a comprehensive risk management solution, which it is hoped will enhance London’s chances of winning the Olympic Games. The team has helped to define the role of private security in the overall plan, demonstrating the value of public / private partnerships. Group 4 Securicor has also provided officers to protect the IOC evaluation committee at their hotel and at key sites across London. Pete Brown, Senior Risk Auditor of Group 4 Securicor (UK Security) said, “Security is a major issue for any country hosting an Olympic Games. With over 250,000 visitors expected every day, a balance must be struck between maintaining the security integrity of the 500 acres Olympic Village and ensuring that competitors and visitors enjoy one of the greatest sporting experiences of their lives. “Security breaches can manifest themselves in a number of ways ranging from low level crime such as pick pocketing to a devastating global terrorism event. Each type of threat must be addressed appropriately and we have proposed a diligent but discreet style of security. “We anticipate that the London 2012 Olympic Games will be groundbreaking in terms of the greater emphasis on sophisticated security technology used in tandem with security officers.”

The broadband processor could fine serious applications in video surveillance products because it is specifically designed from the ground up to deliver cinema quality graphics and to decompress multiple channels of streamed video. A team of IBM, Sony Group and Toshiba engineers has collaborated on development of their jointly developed microprocessor code-named Cell. The prototype chip is 221 mm(2), integrates 234 million transistors, and is fabricated with 90 nanometer SOI technology. Cell’s breakthrough multi-core architecture and ultra high-speed communications capabilities deliver vastly improved, real-time response for entertainment and rich media applications, in many cases 10 times the performance of the latest PC processors. Effectively a “supercomputer on a chip” incorporating advanced multi-processing technologies used in IBM’s sophisticated servers, Sony Group’s computer entertainment systems and Toshiba’s advanced semiconductor technology, Cell will become the broadband processor used for industrial applications to the new digital home. Another advantage of Cell is to support multiple operating systems, such as conventional operating systems (including Linux), real-time operating systems for computer entertainment and consumer electronics applications as well as guest operating systems for specific applications, simultaneously. Initial production of Cell microprocessors is expected to begin at IBM’s 300mm wafer fabrication facility in East Fishkill, N.Y., followed by Sony Group’s Nagasaki Fab, this year. IBM, Sony Group and Toshiba expect to promote Cell-based products including a broad range of industry-wide applications, from digital televisions to home servers to supercomputers. Among the highlights of Cell released today: * Cell is a breakthrough architectural design — featuring eight synergistic processors and top clock speeds of greater than 4 GHz (as measured during initial hardware testing) * Cell is a multicore chip capable of massive floating point processing * Cell is OS neutral and supports multiple operating systems simultaneously.

In a new survey of security managers, systems integrators and service providers, 74% of respondents say information safety on the Web, coupled with a lack of expertise in integrating physical security systems with the enterprise network, are the two highest barriers to putting critical physical security functions onto the Internet. However, 92% of respondents say they’re already — or soon will be — acquiring Internet Protocol (IP)-ready devices, appliances and system components. Knowing how to do it right and minimize risk from security breaches or failures are key issues on the strategic enterprise security agenda. William Crowell, former National Security Agency deputy director and one of the foremost global authorities on information security issues, will speak to this gap between physical security technology readiness and information and network technology security in his keynote address on Monday, February 28. IP-ready security devices (including wireless), appliances, and system components will continue to have a transformational impact on traditional, analog security applications, such as video surveillance and alarm monitoring, and opens the door to a range of digital technology applications including video content storage and management, biometrics and identity management. This rapid move from analog to digital technology will impact every segment of the market, from the systems integrator and installer, to professional security service providers, to product manufacturers, and, in particular, the corporate security managers who rely upon the systems. “This will make it possible to control access to the doors of commercial facilities from Boston to Beijing from corporate headquarters in New York,” says Brook Taliaferro, director of SSN. “Analog devices will become as rare as vinyl records,” he predicts. “Facility security managers need to be informed of the choices they will be required to make. TechSec provides both expert education and peer-to-peer experience that will advance participants’ understanding.” According to industry analyst Steve Hunt, the proprietary communication protocols inherent in analog devices limit their ability to meet the increasingly complex demands required of physical security. IP-ready security products provide more opportunities for increased efficiency, interoperability, and speed. Fredrik Nilsson, general manager of the U.S. division of Swedish IP camera maker Axis Communications and one of the keynotes at TechSec, says that the evolution to IP-based security products will affect the security industry at all levels. IT distributors, such as Anixter and Ingram Micro, that have typically served the IT and network market, will play a more important role in the security arena, says Nilsson. He added that a new breed of integrators that are savvy with network applications will play a larger role in the industry.

Brink’s net income for 2004 was $US114.6 million, compared with $US29.4 million the year before. The company had revenues of $US4.7 billion, compared with $US4 billion in 2003. Michael Dan — chairman, president and CEO of Brink’s — called 2004 in a statement the “year in which our businesses began to demonstrate what they are capable of achieving.”

Brink’s Home Security had record fourth quarter revenue of $US90.1 million and $US345.6 million for the year — a 10-percent increase over 2003. Brink’s ended 2004 with 921,000 home security subscribers generating recurring monthly revenue (RMR) of $US26.1 million.

JAMES Eccleston has been appointed as business development manager for Fratech products at Inner Range. James has more than 10 years of engineering, sales and marketing experience in Europe and Australasia in the electronics and telecommunications industries with companies such as Motorola and Agilent Technologies. Michael Keast has been appointed as business development manager for the Inner Range Concept Security, Access and Building Automation Systems. Michael retuned to Melbourne from the UK where for the last 16 years has held various senior positions in sales and marketing, supplying integrated software systems to the design, engineering and manufacturing industry.

James Covert told the Barnes, Buchanan and Mallon Conference on Feb. 17 in Palm Beach, Fla., and said it is his company’s goal to be the No. 1 commercial installation company by 2008. Chicago-based investment firm GTCR Golder Rauner LLC purchased the business for $315.5 million from Honeywell on May 3 last year. Covert says the separation from Honeywell will be complete on March 31, with HSM having to move 31 of 45 branches. The company has revealed a new logo featuring the “HSM” acronym prominently and eventually will abandon the Honeywell name completely and known only as HSM.

Covert said HSM is using Jupiter, Fla., as its corporate headquarters and will base operations in Chicago. It will maintain central stations in Minneapolis and Santa Ana, Calif.