R&M says that in general terms he industry can be divided into four main segments – security services, security systems, small alarm systems and cash handling services.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

Europe and <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />North America are the main markets, accounting for around 75 per cent of the total market value. The European security market was slightly larger than the North American during 2003, with an estimated total value of EUR 31 billion.

Highly reliable communication links are vital for all advanced security systems, according to research by R&M. Wireless technology contributes to more secure connections by enabling multiple connections using different networks.

Alarm and monitoring are the most mature applications for wireless M2M communication in the security industry. Passive alarms in buildings and vehicles are very well suited for using mobile data communication. Wireless technologies enables continuous monitoring of mobile objects and in residential alarm systems, GSM can replace telephone landlines as the primary communication path.

Video surveillance is another fast growing application where wireless M2M technology creates new opportunities as digital network cameras gradually replace analogue CCTV equipment. The security industry offers a wide range of possible applications for mobile communications technology and services. A critical business volume can be hard to achieve in many areas.

Wide scale introduction of wireless technology in high volume security products such as small alarm systems for the consumer market and network cameras is however creating a sizeable market for wireless M2M communication equipment and network services in the security industry. By 2009, the number of connections used for small alarm systems and surveillance cameras in Europe could exceed 7 million.

Vodafone is the leading provider of wireless M2M communication services for security applications in Europe, providing over 100,000 connections to the leading small alarm system service provider Securitas Direct.

BT Redcare is a leading provider of secure data connections for alarm systems using a combination of wired and wireless technologies in the UK market and has also ventured into offering complete home monitoring solutions.

Some providers of secure communication service, such as CSL Communication in the UK and Multicom Security in Sweden, utilise dedicated wireless data network technologies like Paknet and Mobitex rather than cellular GSM/GPRS networks.

At the launch of Unisys Global Visible Commerce, maritime security and terrorism expert Mr Alexey Muraviev, of Curtin University of Technology, warned that the effective management of terrorist incidents is a new challenge for Australian business. 

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

“Since 80 per cent of the world’s cargo, and 76 per cent of Australia’s, moves by sea, the threat of terrorism will become a major pressure point, affecting the nation’s commerce and how business meets local and global regulatory standards,” said Muraviev.

The potential use of a shipping container to deliver a weapon into a port city is a threat well recognised by governments around the world.  The Australian Government has committed additional spending of $A3.1 billion to upgrade the security of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Australia’s ports and shipping in order to protect Australia’s $A108 billion export revenues.

“If terrorism is not countered and the risk it presents is not managed, Australia could lose $A12 billion dollars in GDP over the next five years,” said international trade expert Mr Alan Oxley, managing consultant, ITS Global Strategies and former Australian ambassador to GATT. 

“Terrorist attacks would disrupt trade. The immediate impact of closure of the Port of Melbourne, Australia’s major shipping port, for one month would be a trade loss of $A4 billion.  Flow on effects would easily push the full costs to over $A10 billion.”

Unisys today challenged industry leaders to think beyond just considering niche solutions such as radio frequency identification (RFID) or personnel ID cards, unveiling solutions that balance the roles of security and business effectiveness in supply chain management.

Unisys has launched a solution called Global Visible Commerce, designed to help companies reduce vulnerability and increase efficiency in their supply chains. This solution set reduces inventory out-of-stocks and total landed cost, improves customer service and assists companies in adapting more quickly to disruptions. 

By making the tracking and tracing of goods and assets more visible throughout the extended supply chain, Unisys is helping companies battle growing threats of counterfeiting, theft and contamination. It gives them the ability to comply more effectively with big-buyer and regulatory mandates. 

“Security and efficiency aren’t short-term issues that can be addressed by simply putting RFID tags onto the sides of shipping containers,” said Andrew Barkla, Vice President Unisys Asia Pacific. 

“Unisys Global Visible Commerce solutions are being tailored to meet the specific needs of government and companies in the life sciences, consumer product, retail and transportation industries. For more than 10 years, Unisys has been working with customers around the world to create cost-efficient and secure supply chains. 

“The real payoff for our clients is striking a balance between pro-active security measures and bottom-line benefits that allows them to maximize opportunities and their competitive advantage in the current global economy.”

Unisys has conducted more than 20 implementations and pilot projects to track, trace, and secure goods and assets for government and consumer product and airline organisations. 

In Australia, Unisys has worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the specification of the new Australian biometric passport, and in New Zealand with Foodstuffs in Wellington on electronic shelf labelling pilots.

Overseas, Unisys is working with customers such as Sara Lee, Motorola Inc. and the U.S. Department of Defence to help make their supply chains more secure and cost-effective. 

That experience includes running one of the world’s largest in-transit visibility networks – a “factory-to-foxhole” implementation across 1,300 nodes in more than 20 countries for the U.S. military. 

It also includes being selected to lead two Operation Safe Commerce pilot projects at three of the biggest ports in the United States. Operation Safe Commerce is the first large-scale public-private effort to improve the security of containerised shipments entering the U. S. from overseas.

The announcement was made by Daniel Lieberman, president and chief executive officer of Holomex, and Peter Brocklesby, president of Applied DNA Sciences. Holomex has produced security holograms to prevent counterfeiting for 20 years.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

The company has an extensive client base in the packaging, pharmaceuticals, electronics, consumer products, cosmetics, liquor, food and beverages industries, and with governments to protect currency, government checks, I.D.s, credit cards, passports and other documentation from forgery.

Applied DNA Sciences extracts and recombines botanical DNA codes to create a virtually foolproof method to prove product authenticity, detect fakes and protect supply chain integrity.

The technology provides overt and covert protection for corporations, governments and consumers against counterfeiting, fraud, theft, piracy, product diversion and adulteration, identity theft and unauthorized intrusion into secure facilities and databases.

The Chinese Government will use this DNA technology to place DNA-secured holographic labels on 500 million DVDs.

Lieberman said, “The fail-safe anti-counterfeiting technology of Applied DNA Sciences, combined with our state-of-the-art holograms, provides an impregnable layer of security for our customers.

The new DNA-Holograms will be available by January 2005, when the two companies will jointly market the products to clients worldwide. Together, we provide levels of brand protection and safety never previously available.”

Brocklesby pointed out that, “The combination of DNA and Holography creates powerful new security technology to protect a wide range of industries. For example, the pharmaceutical industry produces billions of packages annually.

“Losses to the pharmaceutical industry alone, incurred as a result of product counterfeiting and adulteration, are reported to exceed 15 billion US dollars annually, according to Reconnaissance International.

“Our new technologies detect, deter and prevent that loss and improve safety for consumers. A DNA-Hologram combined with RFID antenna/label technology will create a new generation of secure packaging which also contains inventory control and supply chain protection features.”

“The hologram industry grew to $1.2 billion in sales, between 1998 and 2003. DNA-Holographic-RFID product/security is a new horizon with enormous potential. The combination of these technologies in a single low-cost product is available only from Holomex and Applied DNA Sciences.”

Long has established a new business, Dedicated Recruitment Solutions based at Dee Why on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Sydney’s northern beaches.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

DRS specializes in recruitment of staff including: Security technicians, security product sales and security systems sales people in CCTV, access control, alarm systems and major solutions.

Flat fee arrangements are negotiable. You can call DRS on 1300 369 760.

“GE Infrastructure is rapidly becoming the premier security provider and acquiring Edwards positions us as a leader in the $5 billion fire detection and life safety segment,” said Bill Woodburn, President and CEO of GE Infrastructure. 

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

“By combining Edwards’ technology and channel strength with the broader security offering of GE, we can now offer an integrated facility management solution to our channel partners and end users.

This represents a new, $10 billion industry opportunity.  We see significant revenue and cost synergies with this combination, and expect the acquisition to be accretive to GE’s 2005 earnings.”

GE’s acquisition of Edwards is significant because fire detection systems are the only security devices that are required as part of the building specification in new construction projects.

As a result, fire detection systems play a central role in the design and specification of overall security systems.

“We’re seeing a convergence of technologies in the security arena, and a strong fire & life safety business is key to presenting an integrated facility management solution.

“Since Edwards’ technologies can be installed using a building’s existing fire system wiring, there is a significant opportunity for GE Infrastructure to serve the important retrofit segment,” said Ken Boyda, President of GE Infrastructure’s Security business.