When we crossed the technology bridge almost 2 years ago by offering text messages and email bundled into our security packages, I wondered how long it would be until other security companies could figure out how we were doing it.  When we continued to progress with a totally online billing system that allows our customers to see, change and update their billing information without ever having to pick up the phone, I knew we had taken another leap into the future, but with addition of video along with the intrusion, I think we have crossed over the top!

Fixing the blind security system has been no easy task and started several years ago when Rottweiler Security started asking the questions why so little information was provided to customers who have security systems.  The typical monitoring solution was only interfaced with a “Are you OK? ” response.  Without the information provided to all members of the household, it seemed lame at best when lives might be in danger.  Solution?  Our Web Enabled Monitoring package!  It fixed both the line cut issues with land lines, disconnected land lines from home owners and provided serious information to multiple owners and family members of intrusion information.

Now, we have crossed into another realm of technology by welding the security system with a video clip of the intruder.  Rather than law enforcement arriving with little detail of who the intruder is, we now can provide the actual video clip of who they are!  Armed with that information law enforcement can identify the actual intruders and a clip of what they did while on the premises.  This provides the first level of video analytics.  Since Rottweiler leads in video surveillance solutions in the Atlanta market, Rottweiler plans to introduce another level of video analytics to the commercial platform this year.

Called the Rottweiler Watchdog © ™ it also comes with cellular transmission since cellular transmissions so far will not be knocked down.  The entire system is wireless and has several incredible features. 

• Does not require power (How about that!),
• Does not require a land line,
• Comes in a weather proof cabinet,
• Can be used any place cellular signal is available,
• Camera’s can be up to 600 feet away.

The best part of it all, its mobile!  When you move, you do not need to replace your security system hardware!  Simply remove the camera components and off you go.  Installation is quick.  So if you are only going to live in a home temporarily, set up your security system anyway and no need to redo the contract, you just update the address location.  Then when you move, either across town or to another state, you have a solution that will work with you!

Our year here at Rottweiler has started as strange as I have witnessed in many a year.  Quotes for new work is off the chart and if we were to receive all the work we have submitted quotes for in the 11 working days this year, we would exceed revenue totals for the entire year of 2008!  But what really caught my attention was the foolishness that some people will try just to “save money”.  Let me explain.

One of our integrators called us last week for a repair on a system that was discontinued a few years ago.  It seems that the physician that had purchased it had done so to “save money” and technical support for the product was $ 360/hour!  I explained to both that it was discontinued because it was a horrible customer experience product and they were throwing their money away by trying to use the product.

Mistake # 1, he hired an unlicensed contractor to install his wiring in the office.  Rather than pay an extra 20% for a professional installation, he planned to save money.  The computer integrator explained not to blame him for the horrible installation, but he had spent over 2 hours trying to fix the installation and had done the best he could do without wiring the whole office again.

Mistake # 2, wire termination in the ceiling, code violation!  After 10 minutes of explanations we discovered that the wire was terminated in the ceiling and the intent was to place the hub, routers and associated electrical hardware above the ceiling plenum.  The wiring the doctor had paid for was too short to use and he has created a fire hazard not only for his own office, but for other tenants as well.  Not only will he have to rewire the office but the money he just spent for the computer integrator to “fix” the wire he is out as well.

Mistake # 3, he bought his phone system off of ebay, system absolete and without warranty.  When I heard that, I realized that he was out to see how much money he had to throw away!  Professionals know that buying electronic phone systems off of ebay is a waste of money.  I explained to the physician that it would never work, contained no warranty and the functionality of the hardware was obsolete several years ago.

Now comes the math question, what did he save in the end?  He had spent over a week trying to fix his various issues and best that we can guess will continue until he finally gives up in frustration.  He spent over $ 3,000 dollars for work that does not have any warranty and will have to be removed.  He created a fire hazard that could have cost other tenants in the building big time and spent another $ 1500 dollars on a phone system that he cannot ever get to work.

Rottweiler offers Life Time Warranties on wire installations, double the manufacturer warranties and discounts on all purchases to customers that are BACR customers.  Want to save some money?  Don’t fix it - replace it!  Better yet, if someone else has something that is used, make sure you consult a professional before you spend your hard earned dollars.  And always use a licensed contractor!

No matter what your view of 2009 was, it now is part of history.  As each new opportunity presented itself, we turned them into successes or they challenged and stretched us into a stronger unit.  As each month peeled away, we found ourselves arriving here, January 2010.  I decided to take a look back in the year.  After a good hard look, I took another towards the new year presenting itself before us.

Looking back; Although 2009 was very different than we had anticipated it has allowed Rottweiler Security to create some much needed safety products.  From preventing our newly licensed teenagers from text accidents with speeding notification to parents, the Rottweiler Driving Coach © ™ now offer parents the tools needed to help their teenager survive the first few years, and most dangerous ones of driving. 

We defined security by informing gun owners of gun access in the home.  And we have provided parents with the tools necessary for information of access to prescription or alcohol cabinet access trying to curb the 10% of children that will become either alcohol dependant or drug abusers.  Rottweiler Security does all of this for at no greater expense or increase in monitoring fees.  Then we took at how this information is given to the customer and took it to the next level by offering it by text message notifications.  A cellular solution with incredible notification speed.

We did not stop there but offered a personal safety device as you travel with our Rottweiler Guardian Angel © ™.  Providing this solution allows us to fill a void in personal safety, save lives in the process, keep those who love you informed and help you avoid dangerous encounters of loss of property or worse yet, loss of life. 

Rottweiler also introduced a complete line of commercial tracking solutions.  Truck, cargo trailer or anything else you might need a GPS solution for keeping you informed of where your truck is, how it was driven and what stops the driver has already made. 

Looking current; Rottweiler Security is a continual commitment of security and safety 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  The second you do not think it can happen, it does.  A fire, an accident, a home invasion and the false sense or belief that it would never happen to you.  The commitment does not end, nor can it.  It starts with a real security solution, training to make sure you know how the security solution functions and then encouraging you to test the solution on a regular basis.  When your needs change, you have to change with them and adapt.

Looking Forward; 2010 will introduce some new legislation.  Right out of the gate it looks like the Georgia legislature will introduce laws to prevent texting while driving.  I suspect they will modify the use of cell phones while driving as well.  Alabama and Tennessee have both introduced laws forcing trailer hitch modifications for those who pull trailers or boats.  I suspect that Georgia will as well.  Oh yes, Rottweiler Security does have a trailer hitch solution that prevents the pulled trailer from becoming disengaged.  You can find it in the Rottweiler Store.

Finally, finding those top quality sales representatives has been a greater challenge than anticipated.  I am sure when the right individuals arrive that too will be an adjustment and learning experience as well.

No matter what the challenge facing us in the year 2010, Rottweiler Security and Rottweiler Systems will remain committed in your security, your safety and your communication needs.

Registered sex offender Thomas James Leggs Jr. knew where the key was kept and that lead to the death of Sarah Haley Foxwell who was found dead on Christmas Day.  We don’t like to think of it on Christmas Day, but each day, no matter what the day, children are abducted because of mistakes made in protecting children by adults.  This one is no different, the lack of security for the apartment that they lived in and the parents belief that where they lived was safe enough for their family and would never lead to the abduction and eventual murder of their child.

Just as in an automobile accidents, simple mistakes in security, made on average days cause irreversible damage.  The parents mistake?  They left an unprotected spare key available which allowed access into their apartment.  It’s a simple mistake, many make the same error in judgement.  The sex offender knew where the key was kept. 

It was not just one mistake in this case, there were several and the multiple errors in judgements allowed this perpetrator access to their child without them knowing he had the access, they left the keys to their apartment unprotected, which is a huge mistake.

First, never leave a key for access to your home!  Don’t do it, it is the first mistake made for many home invasions and insurance companies do not have to pay for unforced entry.  In some states the burglar will not be charged with breaking and entry because the burglary had a key.  The same is true if the doors are unlocked.  In this case, he knew where the key was and used it. 

The second mistake, the absence of an armed security system within the apartment.  Having a security system and  armed in the stay mode allows for people to remain within the home.  When entry is made a code has to be entered to disarm it or it will activate.  Like most security companies Rottweiler Security is no different, we have a distress code that gives a false indication that the alarm is deactivated.  If entry is made, entering the distress code notifies monitoring that you need help.  In this case the child could have entered a distress code. 

Rottweiler Security systems have SMS texted messages and email capabilities as well, after you start using this service, you will not have it any other way.  Knowing when someone disarms the security system allows you to know when it is armed and when it is disarmed.  If for some reason it was disarmed while a child is home, you are notified immediately.  In this case the parents would have known. 

Third, they lived in an apartment where surveillance cameraswere not installed, monitored or-activated.  Big mistake!  The lack of surveillance cameras allows anyone to come onto the property of an apartment complex, monitor your activity and without your or any one’s knowledge.  You should never live in a highly traveled area with strangers coming and going without working surveillance cameras, especially in apartment complexes.  If your landlord does not have them already, install one yourself.  They are very inexpensive and can notify you when someone is at your door or has access to your apartment.

Fourth, the child did not have any form of mobile security.  This is the reason we started the Rottweiler Guardian Angel © ™.  If Sarah had had one, she could have taken it with her allow her parents to know she needed help and her location would have been communicated to them.  Unfortunately, she did not.

The loss of her to her parents is far greater than we will ever imagine and our hearts break over this tragedy and trying to make sense of it.  It is an awful price to pay for the lack of security.

It is unfortunate that we have to write articles like this but it should serve as a reminder that life is short, it can in fact happen to you and when involved in a house or apartment fire you only have seconds to vacate the property.  As weather changes to the colder winter temperatures, we burn more fuel and whether it is natural gas or other method to warm our homes, we also invite two of the ingredients into our homes.  Heat and fuel.  With these two invited guests, we also invite a third unwanted and often undetected guest which is a byproduct of the first two, carbon monoxide.

An increase of injuries, loss of property and senseless deaths of people often are caused due to the lack of preparation when burning fossil fuels used for heating with space heaters and improper space heater location.   The woman injured during the fire at the Stone Mountain apartments at Liberty Landings is fortunate to be alive!  Had it not been for her several  rescuers, she probably would have either died in the fire or would have sustained injuries from the jump needed from the 3rd floor apartment.  When you consider a 3rd floor apartment, you need to consider your evacuation plan.  She is fortunate, she may have lost everything, but she is recovering from her burns at the hospital and is alive today, unfortunately this is not true for all fire victims.

As it happens every year in the Atlanta area, an apartment fire will be the cause of a child’s death and children die from the lack of smoke detectors or mistakes made with the placement of space heaters.  Often apartment landlords could have done more to avoid the fire or death’s caused with proper escape routes.   I hate stories like this, mostly because they are avoidable with a little attention made to the proper placement of space heaters and working smoke detectors attached to monitored security systems. 

Stone Mountain and Norcross are not the only Atlanta area that are burning, today a 90 Year Old Man Died in a Clayton County house fire.  In Canton, several businesses burn or while at her son’s home a Clayton County home goes up in flames.  Those are just a few reminders.  To avoid making similar mistakes, you also need to regularly; 

• Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  Check them regularly and have your smoke detectors connected to a monitored security system.  If you do not have them, install them today!
• Make sure they are attached to your security system.   If you need assistance, we are glad to help. 
• Make sure you have an escape or evacuation plan for your structure and your children know it.

Don’t be a fire victim this year!

Samsung Telecommunications, already the leader in the telecommunications systems market, announced and released two new systems in December.  With the troubled economy becoming further in the distance we have seen a dramatic increase in business customers investing in the OfficeServ family of business phone systems.  What makes both of these systems noteworthy is that they are specifically designed for a smaller business customer.

Designed for offices with less than 20 stations, the OfficeServ 7030 still packs a punch.  The ability to implement SIP trunks, digital trunks, analog lines, IP telephones, CTI applications along with a host of other productive features, this system is unmatched in price and features.  Best of all if a customer grows beyond the system capabilities, the telephone sets migrate as well saving your investment of platform replacement.

Economically expandable, the OfficeServ 7200S bridges the already economical business systems of the OfficeServ 7100 and OfficeServ 7030 by stepping in between the OfficeServ 7200 System.  The entire OfficeServ family allows you to implement a broader application base of features mixed with border less telecommunications than any other group of telecommunication systems.   Having alternate work locations, business locations or multiple sites all of the OfficeServ family of systems allow you to carry that call to areas outside of a primary location.

The flexibility of multiple converged platforms and site locations should keep Samsung Telecommunications leading in the telecom arena for some time to come.  When a business has multiple locations, the entire family of systems can integrate to multiple site as well, placing a small business investment in a much bigger class of capabilities.

Advanced features of OfficeServ Connect, which allows both a desk telephone and mobile telephone to ring simultaneously and Executive Mobex that allows your desk telephone to ring simultaneously and allows you to transfer, conference and put calls on hold from your mobile telephone make a winning combination to carry the office system calls and transfer them outside the office.  If you are mobile, so is your ability to move with your business.

Dollar for dollar Samsung Telecommunications still leads in economical solutions for the business office of today.  By allowing the legacy iDCS telephones, branching over and incorporating ITP telephoneswith CTI integration, the Samsung lineup is a premium choice in an office system.

This time of year there seems to be a some confusion what to celebrate.  Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or the one that is the wimpy one, Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays.  It seems those people just have not figured out what to believe.  So rather wish someone specific wishes of happiness, they try to blanket everyone for everything.  I’m still not sure how to wish someone on the holiday celebrated as Kwanzaa.  Is it a Happy or Merry Kwanzaa?  What if it’s neither, then do I say Kwanzaa Greetings to someone who is a Kwanzaa celebrator?

Since Kwanzaa was created in 1966 we never heard of it until recent years.  When I was a child, it was not mandatory like it is in today’s school system, we were forced to do math or science or some other topic that was educational.  Topics that revolved around the African cultures were taught in our world history class.  The celebration of my African roots lacks in many ways.  I have never stepped foot on the continent of Africa and as of today it is not on my plan to do so.  In my life I probably have not met 20 people from Africa and no more than 50 that have ever been there.  That’s including the few hundred thousands that I served with in the military. (It’s official, you are to greet someone with Happy Kwanzaa!)  Now I have to find out what you cook for dinner when you have folks over for the Kwanzaa celebration & meal in case I have to cook for a Kwanzaa Party!  :-)

Hanukkah, now that’s a different story.  I have met thousands who have traveled to Israel.  My goal in life is to travel to Israel one day.  With our numerous ties to the Jewish culture, why don’t we spend an equal time in the study of that holiday?  Could it be that its more personal in the celebration?  Rather than say, look at me I am celebrating, maybe those that celebrate Hanukkah do so privately. 

Then there are those wavering individuals that are not sure what, if anything, to celebrate so they just wish a Happy Holiday or a Seasons Greetings.  I think those individuals are afraid to have a voice or maybe they have been abused by their corporate bosses into the submission of neutrality.

For us, we celebrate Christmas.  The simple concept of a savior giving up His throne to offer us the chance to have a relationship with Him is a great gift, if we receive it.  We give gifts too just as a reminder as to what Christmas is about.  

So rather than clutter your email with an email blast we have chosen to pause for a minute and remember.  From our hearts here at Rottweiler and all who read this, Merry Christmas!  May your Christmas be more than you would have ever dreamed it to be and may God bless you richly as you focus on the coming of His son to ransom us.

The first week of December has turned out brisk.  We received confirmation of the purchase of a Samsung OfficeServ 7200 from one customer and then on the same day received the confirmation of a rather large security system by Deerland Enzymes as well.  Friday night, Rottweiler Security manned a booth at the Christmas at Northstar Church.  We had invited the Cobb County Sherriff’s Office who subsequently accepted, our invitation to fingerprint children during the show.  We were informed by the Sheriff’s office that we were unaware of and this information will help us to build an even greater product offering.  

With almost 1,000 family abductions reported each DAY (that is correct, each DAY), and subsequently the associated children reported missing, Rottweiler Security could not sit idly by like many of the mega security companies have for decades.  Our children who are our youngest members of our families and need our help the most illustrate well a necessity to leverage the technology available today to protect them.  We unveiled the Rottweiler Guardian Angel © ™ at the show.

Designed to travel with anyone, the Rottweiler Guardian Angel © ™ has some very distinct features that place it above some of the lacking child abduction GPS products coming to the market place.  First, it operates anywhere there is a cell signal.  Most of the cell companies have a foot print covering the entire United States.  Using the technology of GPS location, the Rottweiler Guardian Angel © ™ reports accuracy using satalite tracking and addressing identification using Google Maps.  When it reports information, it uses the cellular backbone to deliver a message and information you have requested.  More features can be accessed here > > >

Information provided in the basic package by the Rottweiler Guardian Angel © ™ is location of device, the need for assistance, and temperature alert.  You no longer have to concern yourself with information of where is my loved one.  You may also request this information either from your personal computer or you may text a request from your cell phone as you travel.

Those that took the time to view a demonstration were amazed that the information was transmitted even while we were in a cellular dead zone.  Since the True North building is made of a mesh of metal beams, most cell phones were unable to send or recieve message.  However, Rottweiler Guardian Angel © ™ still transmitted the information.  Several of Rottweiler Guardian Angel © ™ were sold and we have now started to put a small scratch in preventing child abduction by providing a much needed device for our clients. 

As we progress through the next 60 days we will see an increase in home invasion.  It happens every year and this year was and will continue to  be no different.  Fortunately, we only had one burglary during the Thanksgiving four day holiday.  We anticipate an increase  over the Christmas and New Year weekend as well.  Daylight hours are fewer and provide a level of undetection until it is too late.  Believing the misconception that you can be more relaxed during the holidays or that you could not be a victim of a home invasion is a big misconception.  Because of the holidays, people often forget to either test the alarm system or fail to set the alarm.

One of the tactics that are often used during the holidays is to have a caller request from our office instructions over the phone on how to change the password to the security system.  I am continually amazed how many times this happens, especially during the holiday season.  Usually they do not do this during the normal working hours and often it is either on Saturday or the Friday following a holiday.  The familiar pattern contains statements like “its an emergency and I need it changed” or “my member asked me to go inside to get something they have forgotten”.  This year it was “we need to go inside to get something”!  Are you kidding me!

Customers who use our web enabled security systems can remotely change their password any time they desire.  Even from a cell phone they can access them remotely and give a temporary password or change it while they travel.  If you do not have a web enabled security system, now is a great time to upgrade!  For those with older systems, we have instructions within our downloads page and we even have a question listed on our FAQ page.  So, Can we tell you how to change your password over the phone, no.  It is for your security and for security reasons we never retain passwords of our customers security systems.  That is one of the reasons we make sure all customers change their password from the default in the system.

The home invasion mentioned earlier in this article, we think the home owner was very fortunate.  They found the stolen jewelry and tiller at a pawn shop within 10 miles from the home and sure enough the burglar signed his name on the receipt and provided a drivers license picture during the transaction!  Smart one he was!  I still wonder why someone would go through the trouble of loading a tiller up after rummaging through the master bedroom for jewelry.  My thought was that he had entered the property multiple times, who knows?  I suspect if that is true he also was watching the home to make sure both adults were absent prior to making entry on to the property. 

Breaking and entering is one felony and grand theft is another so my thinking is he will be in jail at least a few years when they get him.

Final thoughts.  Check your security system, check it regularly.  Once a month is sufficient.  Also make sure your smoke detectors are working as well.  With candles, added lights and trees that dry out are all reasons to check your smoke detector!

As we come closer to our traditional Thanksgiving Day celebrations, I would like to take a few minutes and thank every person that has made Rottweiler a success.  The list of people, who we often call customers, continues to grow and I would like to thank each and every one of you for your trust in our company in what we are doing and the direction we are headed.  We could do what we are doing without your help.

To our vendors who provide so much assistance, you people are great!  Again if it was not for our vendors and associates who are the best, we could not offer the best in products to the people who become our customers.  Without your support, it would be harder to give the support they deserve for their trust.

But most of all I am thankful that God has entrusted us and equipped us to perform the tasks we have to.  Without His magnificent provision, we would never have survived 2009.  Truly we are blessed!

For my family, my children and my wife and the ability to be a part of their lives I am thankful.  Each day passes so quickly and I can not believe that we have almost finished 2009.   

With a sincere heart and with deep appreciation, thank you.

The staff of Rottweiler