College Dropout Bets Security Company on Automation

42-year-old entrepreneur Todd Pedersen is a college dropout who started out selling pest control door-to-door working out of a trailer and bathing in a swimming pool, and ended up creating one of the fastest-growing home security company in the U.S.

His company APX Alarm, now called Vivint, is betting that many of it’s more than 170,000 customers will jump on it’s home automation products. The new products and services include automatic door locks, video surveillance and lighting and small appliance control.

The company’s press release is after the jump.

Vivint™, one of the nation’s largest home automation companies, today announced new products and services that include automatic door locks, video surveillance and lighting and small appliance control. These additions to the Vivint product line will provide increased safety for families, improved energy efficiency throughout the home, and greater convenience for customers.

Vivint’s new home automation products are specifically designed to integrate with the company’s existing security and energy management systems, creating a full-service home automation system for residential customers across the United States and Canada. At the center is the Vivint Go!Control panel, a central touch screen panel that communicates between each home automation product, giving customers access to their entire system via the touch of a button or remote control access via their smart phone or Internet browser.

According to a recent Forrester Research report titled Consumers Are Ready for Home Remote Control, “The most interesting functions to control remotely relate to security and cost: lights, home monitoring and climate.”

“I love the ease and flexibility of my Vivint system,” said customer Raymond Izaac. “The Vivint technicians are extremely knowledgeable and the products are affordable and simple to use. I love knowing that my family is protected and that I have personal control of my home’s energy management.”

“Our Vivint products combine the comfort of home security with the latest advances in home automation and energy efficiency,” said Alex Dunn, chief operating officer of Vivint. “By bringing these products to market, we are making home automation simple and affordable for the mainstream consumer.”

The products announced today will be generally available beginning March 1, 2011. For more information, call 866.955.9615, e-mail [email protected] or visit the company website at www.vivint.com

Automatic Door Locks – These Kwikset keyless-entry electronic locks communicate wirelessly with the Vivint Go!Control touch screen panel, allowing customers to arm and disarm their security system when they lock or unlock doors. They also feature true remote-control capabilities, courtesy of a motorized deadbolt. This means customers can monitor and manage locks using a smart phone, computer or through their Go!Control panel. For more information, visit www.vivint.com/automaticdoorlocks

Video Surveillance – Vivint’s video surveillance cameras use motion to detect movement and record activity outside or inside a home. Homeowners can remotely access recorded clips via their smart phone or computer. They also include the ability to view “live” video feeds from the cameras at any time. For more information, visit www.vivint.com/videosurveillance

Lighting and Small Appliance Control – Vivint lighting and small appliance controls allow customers to control a wide range of common household devices. From irons and coffee pots to sprinkler systems and lights, customers can turn appliances and lights on and off remotely using a smart phone or web-enabled device. For more information, visit www.vivint.com/lightingandsmallappliance

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