Home security emerges as telco-cable battlefield

One of the hot topics at this week's The Cable Show in Chicago could be the emergence of smart home management and advanced home security services being launched by many broadband and TV operators. The talk could be fueled by Comcast's expansion of its fledgling Xfinity home security service to six new markets, which was announced last week, as well as Comporium Communications' on-site demonstration of its own home security and smart home management offerings.

Both Comcast's and Comporium's services are backed by iControl, a leader in the home security segment which late last year merged with uControl in a deal that iControl officials said, at the time, would help them to rapidly broaden their activities with service providers. At a time when HD and even DVR services are becoming pretty common, home management and security services is a segment where service providers still may be able to gain a competitive edge in dense markets. Services from telcos like Verizon Communications and SureWest Communications preceded Comcast's expansion, and it isn't much of a stretch to see these services eventually becoming competitive table stakes.

For more:
- read FierceCable's story on Comcast's expansion
- here's the Comporium release

Related articles:
SureWest was one of the first telecom providers with a home monitoring service
iControl merged with uControl late last year