ADT Security Services
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ADT Security Services, originally American District Telegraph now also known as ADT Fire and Security or simply ADT is a division of Tyco International and a major worldwide supplier of electronic security systems, fire alarm systems, communication systems, and integrated building management systems.
| ADT Fire & Security. | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Security Detection and Prevention foundation = 1874, acquired by Tyco 1997 |
| Founded | {{{foundation}}} |
| Headquarters | Boca Raton, Florida |
| Industry | Fire detection, Fire suppression, Security systems, Communication systems |
| Website | [1] |
Contents |
[edit] Company overview
ADT is a provider of burglar and fire alarms, access control, and video surveillance systems.
With over 20 million customers nationwide (US) ADT has grown, mostly through the acquisition of other companies, to become the largest security company in the United States[citation needed]
The ADT security company was established in 1874 by Robert Roebling Clowry, an ancestor of the great Irish war hero Michael Collins.
[edit] Products and services
- Home security
- Fire detection
- Public address and voice alarm (PA/VA)
- Fixed fire extinguishing and suppression systems
- Access control systems
- CCTV (Close Circuit Television)
- Care communications (Nurse call, disabled refuge and toilet alarms, lone worker protection, staff attack alert systems)
- Electronic article surveillance (Commonly known as tagging)
- Building management systems
- 24 hour alarm Monitoring
- Security systems service and maintenance
ADT UK has also a specialist vehicle division tasked to create and maintain CCTV and riot control vehicles for police forces around the country.
[edit] The Americas
ADT has branches covering the United States, Canada and Latin America.
[edit] Europe
ADT has branches in at least 19 countries in Europe. ADT UK and Ireland has 41 branches employing around 6000 people. ADT Europe has annual gross revenues of at least £800 million.
[edit] Africa
ADT has one branch in South Africa.
[edit] Asia
ADT has branches in at least 7 countries in Asia.
[edit] Australia
ADT has branches in Australia and New Zealand. They have the contract for maintaining Cityrail's CCTV system[2]
[edit] About ADT systems
ADT's main service is the installation and monitoring of alarm systems, whereby one of their Customer Monitoring Centers (CMC) receives electronic signals from an alarm system when an alarm event is triggered, such as in the case of an intrusion, fire, carbon monoxide presence or manual depression of a holdup/duress button. A monitoring specialist examines the data received from the alarm system and determines the type of response the alarm signal warrants. Depending on the type of alarm, the monitoring specialist will attempt to contact the location via telephone to investigate further and determine if the signal is a false alarm. If necessary, the monitoring specialist can notify the local police, fire, EMS, or other emergency services department and/or an authorized security response service of the alarm status and the event address. ADT maintains seven Customer Monitoring Centers in North America.
Most consumers believe their ADT system is manufactured by ADT; however for accuracy, ADT security systems are generally manufactured by Ademco (a product of Honeywell International), GE, ITI (both products of GE Security), or DSC (a product of Tyco International).[citation needed]
[edit] About ADT Authorized Dealer Group
ADT Security also has an Authorized Dealer group. Like ADT corporate, Authorized Dealers offer ADT corporate approved equipment which is monitored and serviced by ADT corporate.The hardware is generally not the same equipment as what is purchased from ADT corporate themselves. ADT Dealers offer a basic system for free, and charges for connection whereas ADT corporate sells equipment, charges for the equipment but not for connection. Detached homes, lower to middle end residences and small applications like apartment buildings and condos sometimes will benefit from Authorized Dealer purchases.
The agreements are typically a lease, with generally longer terms and associated costs in comparison to purchasing a system from ADT themselves.
ADT authorized dealers are NOT ADT corporate installed, only monitored and serviced by such after the original agreement expires.
ADT dealers usually install different hardware than ADT corporate. Such devices as well as paperwork is clearly labelled ADT authorized dealer, however it has been known that some dealers misrepresent themselves or the equipment as ADT genuine.[citation needed]
[edit] History
All text in this section is based on ADT sales literature, while accurate, may not be totally impartial.
[edit] 1874
In America in the 1800s there were many small telegraph delivery companies, in 1887, 57 district telegraph delivery companies affiliated and became "American District Telegraph".
[edit] 1890s
With the advent of advanced call boxes and multi-signal electric protection systems in the early 1890s, ADT gained a solid reputation in security protections.
[edit] 1899
With the increase in telephone usage in the late 1800s ADTs messenger business slowly declined in popularity. ADT tried branching out and developing their signalling business while still maintaining their telegraph business as primary income source.
[edit] 1901
ADT incorporated into Western Union. Many developments were made this year in the now primary field of signalling. ADT separated its messenger business from its main signalling business. This was the beginning of the end for the old ADT company.
[edit] 1909
Western Union (and ADT) came under the control of AT&T.
[edit] 1910-1930
As technology improved and new ideas came into practice, ADT grew its business into new areas like fire alarms and burglar alarms.
[edit] 1930-1950
With the Great Depression and World War II and the increased industrialisation they brought, security became more important to businesses. ADT grew and capitalised on this new age.
[edit] 1960-1970
ADT becomes a publicly owned company. In 1964 ADT a division of the Grinell Company was found to be a monopoly in restraint of Trade. It was showen to provide almost 80% of the central station alarm service in the United States. In some cities such NYC, Memphis Tenn. etc. they were the sole provider of central station alarm service. They were also found to have forced out of business competitors by lowering prices below cost.
They would charge national accounts very low prices in cities with competitors, and much higher prices, where no competition was available.
ADT was forced to adopt a national price list, which could not be varied from. To help establish Central Station Competitors in cities which had none, and to pay fines and triple damages to the Federal Government, National Customers, and local Competitors.
[edit] 1980-1990
In the late 1980s ADT shareholders agreed to change the corporate name from American District Telegraph to simply ADT, Inc. By the mid 1990s ADT surpassed the 1 million customer milestone. In 1991, ADT Canada launched the DVERS (Domestic Violence Emergency Response System)Program. In 1992, ADT launched the AWARE (Abused Women's Active Response Emergency) Program . ADT UK bought "Modern Alarms LTD" in 1996.
[edit] 1997
ADT was purchased by Tyco. This was, in fact, a corporate takeover of Tyco by ADT, thus allowing the Bermuda tax status.
[edit] 2000-Present
ADT currently has branches in 30 different countries, with over 20,000 employees.
In 2002, three Tyco execs were indicted for fraud. Tyco is the parent company of ADT.[3]
ADT had gross revenue of US$7.2 billion in 2006.
In 2006, ADT created the Custom Home Services Division.
