- ADT Security Services
Infobox_Company
company_name = ADT Fire & Security.
company_
company_type = Security Detection and Prevention foundation = 1874, acquired by Tyco 1997
location =Boca Raton, Florida
industry =Fire detection ,Fire suppression ,Security systems ,Communication systems
homepage = [http://www.adt.com]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 electronicsecurity systems,fire alarm systems, communication systems, and integrated building management systems.Company overview
ADT provides monitored burglar, fire and video surveillance systems. ADT holds 69% market share Fact|date=September 2008 and has twenty nine monitoring stations, five in the United States and two in Canada. In addition to monitored systems, they provide access control for larger facilities.
Over the years, ADT has grown, primarily through the acquisition of other companies. Serving over 20 million customers Fact|date=September 2008 in the
United States alone, ADT is one of the largest security companies in the United States.In 1998 ADT Fire and Security was granted a 50 year contract to maintain the security of the British and American Governments. This is why employee vetting is so in depth and conducted by external sources Fact|date=September 2008.
ADT in the UK
ADT first entered the
United Kingdom in the late 1950s with the establishment of Electric Protection Services Limited based in London and introduced central monitoring in the mid-60s at the request of several leading banks. The 1970s and 80s brought steady growth.In the mid 1990s, ADT Inc was acquired by Tyco International at the same time Tyco also bought up the UK firm Thorn Security.
In 1997, ADT Fire and Security plc was formed in the UK from the merger of three of the UK’s largest security firms: ADT, Thorn Security and Modern Security Systems.
ADT Fire and Security is also the
British Government 's primary security provider. All ADT employees are subject to in depth vetting due to the nature of information they have access to. Some ADT employees in the UK require Government SC Security Clearance from theDefence Vetting Agency .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 maintenanceADT UK has also a specialist vehicle division tasked to create and maintain CCTV and riot control vehicles for police forces around the country.
The Americas
ADT has branches covering the United States,
Canada andLatin America , as well as Europe.Europe
ADT has branches in at least 21 countries in
Europe . ADT UK andIreland has 107 branches employing around 33 000 people. ADT Europe has annual gross revenues of at least 23.2 Billion.Africa
ADT has one branch in
South Africa .Asia
ADT has branches in at least 7 countries in
Asia .Australia
ADT has branches in
Australia andNew Zealand . They have the contract for maintaining Cityrail's CCTV system. [http://www.adtsecurity.com.au/__data/page/36803/ADT_Wins_Contract_To_Improve_Rail_Security.pdf]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. In actuality, ADT security systems are generally manufactured by Ademco (a product of
Honeywell International ), GE ITI (both products ofGE Security ), DSC (a product ofTyco International ), or Bosch. Fact|date=May 2008About 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 the same equipment as what is purchased from ADT corporate themselves. ADT Dealers offer a basic system for free whereas ADT corporate sells equipment, charges for the equipment and installation. Detached homes, lower to middle end residences and small applications like apartment buildings and condos will benefit from Authorized Dealer purchases.
With ADT or any of their authorized dealers, there is a 36-month agreement for monitoring.
ADT dealers install all equipment which meets ADT's requirements.
History
All text in this section is based on ADT sales literature, while accurate, may not be totally
impartial .1874
In America in the 1800s; there were many small telegraph delivery companies; in
1887 , 57 districttelegraph delivery companies affiliated and became "American District Telegraph".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.
1899
With the increase in telephone usage in the late 1800s, ADT's messenger business slowly declined in popularity. ADT tried branching out and developing their signaling business while still maintaining their
telegraph business as primary income source.1901
ADT incorporated into
Western Union . Many developments were made this year in the now primary field of signaling. ADT separated its messenger business from its main signaling business.1909
Western Union (and ADT) came under the control ofAT&T .1910-1930
As technology improved and new ideas came into practice, ADT grew its business into new areas like
fire alarm s andburglar alarm s.1930-1950
With the
Great Depression andWorld War II and the increasedindustrialisation they brought, security became more important to businesses. ADT grew and capitalised on this new age.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 shown to provide almost 80% of the central station alarm service in the United States. In some cities, such
New York City andMemphis, Tennessee , 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, to help establish Central Station Competitors in cities that had none and to pay fines and triple damages to the Federal Government, National Customers, and local Competitors.
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 to help victims of domestic violence. ADT UK bought "Modern Alarms LTD" in 1996.1997
ADT was purchased by Tyco. This was, in fact, a
reverse takeover of Tyco by ADT, thus allowing theBermuda tax status.2000-Present
ADT currently has branches in 50 different countries, with over 58 000 employees.
Tyco is the parent company of ADT. [http://edition.cnn.com/2002/BUSINESS/asia/09/12/us.tyco/]
ADT had gross revenue of US $29.00 billion in 2007.
In 2006, ADT created the Custom Home Services Division.
ADT is the largest security company in the world.
ee also
*
Tyco International External links
* [http://www.adt.com/ ADT homepage]
* [http://www.tyco.com/ Tyco International homepage]
* [http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/adt.htm Consumeraffairs.com]
* [http://www.adt.co.uk/ ADT UK homepage]
* [http://www.homesecurityfamily.com/ ADT Dealer]
* [http://www.homesecuritydream.ca/ ADT Dealer Canada]
* [http://www.adt-home-security-systems.com/ ADT Affiliate]
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