Apartments home in on safety

Increasing security concerns are prompting many people in the state to install hi-tech security systems, including closed circuit televisions (CCTV) in their houses.
These systems, which were until a couple of years ago installed only in commercial buildings and financial firms, started finding greater acceptance with internet connectivity coming into vogue.
According firms providing the service, it’s the non-resident Indians who mostly seek electronic security systems for their houses in the state. Technologies available in the market enable them to monitor their houses and surroundings through mobile phones and computers sitting thousands of miles away.
“In recent years numerous people have been approaching us for installing security systems in their houses/apartments . Majority of them are doing so because of security concerns. NRIs awareness about the advantages of security systems is making them install such systems in their houses here,” said Mahin M I, managing director of Kochi-based International Security Systems Solutions.
The digital video recorder (DVR) to which cameras are connected records and sends alerts to the mobile phone set in the DVR whenever intrusions occur. “When intrusions occur, alert goes to the mobile phone and the person can login into the IP address of the DVR and see what is happening live on the mobile phone or computer . This would enable him/her to inform his/her relatives or the authorities about what is happening.
The total cost for installing a four-camera CCTV with digital video recorder (DVR) would range from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000, said M Sreejith of Symphony Network Systems, Kozhikode. Firms offer free maintenance for a year; from the second year onwards they charge 10 per cent of the total cost. Apart from CCTVs, other important security systems installed in houses include motion sensors, beam sensors, glass detectors, video door phones and audio door phones.
Realizing the potential of the electronic security systems market in the state, many global firms in the business have started focusing on the state, said A Krishnakumar , managing director of Focus Technologies. Recently, Honeywell Automation Indian Limited had called a meeting of its agencies to chalk out strategy to tap the potential of the Kerala market, he said. Many agencies selling security systems said on an average they had a monthly turnover of Rs 10-20 lakh. Their customers are mostly from Ernakulum, Malapp u r a m a n d Kozhikode districts where there is a large number of NRIs.
There are more than 100 firms registered with the Electronic Security Association of India, a body of security systems manufacturers, distributors and system integrators. Interestingly, many of these agencies advertise in Malayalam periodicals published from European countries and the USA, targeting the Malayali diaspora there who own homes and apartments in the state.