5Qs with InGrid CEO Lou Stilp
It seems there are a lot of home security announcements coming out in advance of the Cable Show. Why? Cable companies have been looking at security for many years, and trying to figure out the best way to roll it out to customers. It’s a logical next service for them. That’s why there’s a lot of interest in this space. Operators have delved moderately into this business over the years. What will it take for them to ramp it up? A business model that works for them and their subscribers. Traditional security is very expensive, and cable companies are mass marketers. So, what they need is the right offer to be able to allow them to roll it out inexpensively. It’s all about economics. How does InGrid differentiate itself from the competition? We have the only wireless turnkey solution. We can put a cable operator into the business very quickly. Our product can be shipped directly to customers and self-installed or installed by the cable company technician. It integrates very well with the broadband service. We have a Web portal they can integrate with their Web portals… There are other people who will be at the Cable Show who are add-ons to a security system. InGrid is a security system, and we are actually the first new security technology in literally a couple decades. And you announced deals recently with BlueRidge and RCN. Any others? They are the only deals we’ve announced. We can also talk about Armstrong Cable, which is also launching. Their press release hasn’t went out yet. BlueRidge, RCN and Armstrong are all Top 20 cable operators, very innovative. We’re happy to be working with them. How recession proof is home security? It seems like families might look to cut that monthly fee if money’s tight. Security has been around for many decades, and while it has cycles, like other industries, the cycles are not as deep as other industries. If we do end up in a recession, certainly all business will decline, but [security] probably only by a little bit. People who want security are people who have concerns about safety… for them, it’s not a luxury.
