Linear LLC - Experts & Thought Leaders

Nice/Nortek Control is set to demonstrate new products and reveal new ways to integrate their brands and solutions together and demonstrate new products at ISC West 2022, March 22-25, in Las Vegas, Nevada.   This event will be the first where dealer and distributor partners will be able to see a majority of the Nice/Nortek Control brands like 2GIG® security systems, Linear® access control, HySecurity® gate products, Proficient® audio, ELAN® control systems and Numera® health + wellness all under one roof. The ‘Nice Neighborhood’, consisting of solutions for residential, commercial, multifamily and industrial projects, will be located at Booth 20007. Linear surveillance products Since the acquisition announcement in October 2021, Nice/Nortek Control has continuously made progress on their integration journey by working to find innovative ways to bolster the ways the brands can offer a stronger family of solutions. ISC West attendees will also witness linear surveillance products in action for the very first time At the show, the company will demonstrate how ELAN control products and the award-winning 2GIG EDGE™ panel are now compatible with each other. ISC West attendees will also witness linear surveillance products in action for the very first time and see initial working compatibility between Linear Surveillance and HySecurity gate products. “With each advancement, Nice/Nortek Control proves our solutions for security, access, control and entertainment are unmatched and truly, ‘Stronger Together’,” said Richard Pugnier, Vice President of Marketing and Enablement at Nice/Nortek Control. Facial recognition technology “With our robust, single portfolio, our entire family of brands and products – from 2GIG and Linear to HySecurity – all form the ultimate alliance with endless, innovative opportunities for an enhanced safe, smart home experience.” “Innovation at Nice/Nortek Control never stops. We’re always looking for new ways to have all our technologies talk to each other. We’re excited to debut how our award-winning 2GIG EDGE security panel, the only panel currently in the market with facial recognition technology, and our award-winning ELAN control panel can seamlessly work together to arm and disarm homes – taking security and safety to new levels of success,” said Quinto Petrucci, the Vice President of Product Management for 2GIG security systems. Visit Booth 20007 at ISC West for a preview and see the exciting next steps on the Nice/Nortek Control integration journey!

Following the acquisition of Nortek Control in October 2021, Nice, a global manufacturer of smart home and building automation solutions, announces plans to form a single entity in North America by consolidating all its essential operations under Nice. Nortek Control will complete a transition to the Nice brand within the year 2022. 2GIG®, ELAN®, Linear®, Mighty Mule®, SpeakerCraft®, Proficient®, Furman®, Panamax®, Gefen®, Numera®, Intellivision®, Abode®, and HySecurity® will continue to go to market as brands of Nice. Single-source manufacturers The combination will create a powerhouse in North America, provides partners with access to the entire regional product portfolio, and demonstrate that all companies are stronger together. The move will position Nice as one of the largest single-source manufacturers of smart home and building automation solutions in the North American market. Integrators, dealers, and distribution partners benefit from access to greater opportunities Integrators, dealers, and distribution partners benefit from access to greater opportunities with a broader solutions portfolio of integrated smart and connected products. “The newly enlarged and strengthened presence of Nice North America further reinforces our commitment to our partners, customers, and the channel,” said Edoardo Malfè, President & CEO, Nice North America. High-security applications “The expanded portfolio created by our strategic acquisitions enables the delivery of solutions to partners and end-users from a single-source provider of a full suite of integrated solutions for residential, commercial, industrial, and government customers, from consumer DIY to custom and professionally-installed specialized products and high-security applications.” Joining Malfè at the helm, Luca Longhin, a veteran of Nice will co-lead Nice North America as Deputy CEO. Together, they have assembled an experienced and diverse leadership team to chart the course and achieve aggressive growth targets set by the consolidated organization. Smart home segment At Nice, it is the people, along with knowledge and experiences unique to each team member" “To fully align the businesses and best support our partners, we are pleased to announce several powerful additions to our dynamic leadership team,” said Longhin. “At Nice, it is the people, along with knowledge and experiences unique to each team member that remains core to how we do business. By uniting key businesses in North America, we have the opportunity to cultivate and grow a leadership team with unparalleled diversity and experience both from within and externally.” Combining new talent with long-standing internal executives forms one of the most knowledgeable, experienced, and diverse C-suites in the pro-install smart home segment. Industry veterans Paul Williams and Lisa Potok join the new leadership team, bringing unique perspectives and decades of experience to the group. Williams joins as Chief Product Officer and Potok joins as Chief Financial Officer. Industry-specific expertise Internal promotions within Nice and Nortek Control complete the executive leadership team bringing industry-specific expertise and experience to the table. Amanda Repp steps into the newly created role of Chief People & Diversity Officer. Jim Hardiman will take over as General Manager of the China Innovation Center. Jari Niemela was recently announced as Chief Technology Officer. Craig Copley becomes Chief Information Officer. Mark Owen Burson is named Chief Marketing Officer and Daniel Schatz will serve as General Counsel. The internal organization changes listed above are effective as of today.

Offering enhanced security and personalised access control, Nortek Control has launched its new Linear BT135-W Access Control Reader and Linear BT125-W Access Control Reader. The new readers integrate Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technologies, providing users intelligent, contactless and secure access control in a slim design, which fits seamlessly into any office or building environment. Furthermore, the new Linear readers provide dealers and end-users several options to customise access control in a secured way. Linear BT135-W and BT125-W Access Control Readers Users are able to pair the Linear BT135-W Reader with the new Linear 13.56 MHz smart cards Users are able to pair the Linear BT135-W Reader with the new Linear 13.56 Megahertz (MHz) smart cards and key fobs for premium security. With 13.56 MHz information extremely difficult to clone, these new readers provide a strong security solution for additional user peace of mind. Plus, the Linear BT125-W Access Control Reader offers backward compatibility with current Linear 125 kilohertz (kHz) Prox cards and key fobs. By combining these solutions with the new Linear Access Control Mobile App, users get the added convenience of touchless entry, and the flexibility to have both physical and mobile credentials. Enhanced security wit Linear Access Control Mobile App Security is further heightened with the mobile app, which securely stores and delivers mobile credentials to personal devices. Along with providing the ability to customise options to specific end user needs, the app can also store multiple credentials with a colour-coded labelling system to distinguish between the credentials. “We’ve up-levelled the security in our new readers, leveraging all the capabilities of BLE technology. Users get secure access to mobile credentials, and their phone’s built-in biometric sensors increase security and expand credentials protection by utilising a user’s integrated personal biometric data on their mobile devices, such as fingerprint scanners or face unlock,” said Mark Prowten, Director of Product Management for Nortek Control’s Linear brand. Easy installation and deployment Mark Prowten adds, “We also designed our new readers with dealers and integrators in mind. They will appreciate how simple we’ve made installation and deployment for them. There is no portal login or on-boarding process necessary, allowing them to ensure a user’s information stays secure and private. In addition, the app only requires a one-time registration of a user’s cell phone number.” All Linear Bluetooth access control readers include a digital BLE range-setting card For the dealer, having the flexibility to determine read range at different levels uniquely solves perimeter access needs. All Linear Bluetooth access control readers include a digital BLE range-setting card. This card gives installers the ability to toggle the reader’s Bluetooth read-range between five different modes: Tap-and-Go, Short (up to 2 inches), Medium (up to 10 inches), Long (up to 15 feet), and Max (up to 30 feet). Contactless smart card technologies “These new Linear readers combine the latest, advanced BLE and contactless smart card technologies that allow our access control manufacturer and integrator customers to offer a total solution, one that supports mobile and physical credentials,” said Richard Pugnier, Vice President of Marketing at Nortek Control. Richard Pugnier adds, “As part of our total solution with expanded feature options, the latest Linear access control readers offer an easy upgrade path for existing customers, while also making them very attractive for new site installs that can lead to additional revenue opportunities for our dealers.” Available now, the new Linear BT135-W and BT125-W Access Control Readers, along with the new mobile and physical credentials, are the most recent introduction in the successful and growing Linear reader series. The new Linear mobile app is live on both the iTunes App Store, and Google Play Store.

Access Control is the second-fastest growing area in the security market. A major shift from PC-based clients systems to solid state, embedded operating systems, browser-based user interfaces, remote services, and changes in compliance legislation are just a few factors driving access control adoption both across the residential and commercial markets. John LaFond, VP of Integrated Systems at Linear LLC, explains these factors and how they contribute to the future of access control. Security, total cost of ownership (TCO) and reliability concerns have sparked a major shift from PC-based client access control and security systems to solid state embedded operating system and browser-based user interfaces. As such, market leaders have engineered innovation in this area leading to a significantly higher growth rate. Lower TCO with embedded access control systems The knowledge of IT-friendly embedded browser services has been taken and applied to create a product that leverages the reliability and security of solid state computer systems designed for the network, running with an embedded Linux operating system. When compared with PC-based systems, embedded products are much less susceptible to risks such as hard drive failures, virus/spyware attacks, and Microsoft updates, which can unknowingly take a system offline. One of the other key advantages of using this type of access control platform is the lower long-term TCO for users, versus other competitive access control systems. How does an embedded system pull this off? It is out-of-the-box ready for faster set-up and doesn’t require software to load or manage. This reduces the risk of operating system compatibility issues and the associated issues of loading and configuring software properly. There is no dedicated workstation hardware or software client to manage and no database software license is required. Furthermore, a common software user can interact across all systems, from basic to more powerful models. Embedded systems are designed to be easily managed by today’s portable devices such as smart phones, tablets, laptops, as well as traditional PC’s. Lower TCO is achieved because the system eliminates the need for ongoing maintenance. Main vertical markets adopting more access control Educational institutions from primary schools to universities are always looking at how they can better secure campuses. Everything from monitoring visitors and restricting access to specific areas, to security cameras and video analytics helps make these institutions more secure. There’s also been an increase in churches and other places of worship investing in access control and heightened security. A lot of this is due to the fact that previously, there was no such security system in place, but the risk of theft or unauthorised entry has also added motivation. Today, it is common practice to deploy access control systems in any facility Health and long-term care facilities represent one of the most promising markets for access control and security segments. Care facilities are increasingly depending on technology to monitor patients and residents while reducing staffing costs. Increased theft of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, coupled with the desire to create better ‘lockdown’ plans, have driven demand for better accountability and tracking of health and care personnel through access control. Within the housing market, multi-dwelling units (MDUs) have invested heavily in access control systems and services for screening visitors and providing better overall security. Particularly, video intercoms have started gaining popularity, especially in premium MDUs, but telephone entry units remain popular as well. Today, it is common practice to deploy access control systems in any facility, from commercial applications where employees expect their work place is safe, to residential applications where convenience and control are required. Major factors influencing access control adoption One of the more recent factors having a positive influence on the adoption of access control is compliance legislation. Many companies are now legally required to bring access control, security and other systems into compliance with instated laws. Failure to comply can result in fines, loss of insurance, audits, or even civil and criminal penalties. Increased commitment to safety is another driving factor behind access control. Companies are finding that it makes sound fiscal sense to mitigate risk as much as possible. Because risks come in many forms, from terminated employees, hazardous areas, and public safety situations to lock outs/ lock downs, and information security, security consultants and installers are able to understand the specific risks and make recommendations to customers accordingly. One of the other key advantages of using this type of access control platform is the lower long-term total cost of ownership (TCO) for users, versus other competitive access control systems Inventory shrinkage, or the loss of products between point-of-manufacture/purchase from supplier and point-of-sale is also giving momentum to the sales of access control products, particularly in the retail sector. Between employee theft, shoplifting, administrative error and vendor fraud, there are many opportunities for shrinkage to occur, most of which can be safeguarded against with an adequate access control system. More recent occurrences like flash mob robberies are bringing increased awareness and motivating businesses to put in lockdown systems to deal with modern threats. Environmental factors play their part as well. Whether it’s for a second home or a chain of remote office or retail locations, people want to receive updates that let them know what’s happening in real time and give them a level of control and access, even if they can’t physically be there. Security distributors and installers need to understand latest technologies With embedded access control systems, there is a common hardware and software platform that can be leveraged across many brands with a consistent user interface and control via traditional computers and control pads, as well as mobile devices. On top of all this is a back end utility that provides dealers with secure remote connectivity to support services. This backend technology is critical for a dealer’s future. All these advancements mean very little if distributors and dealers don’t understand the solutions that they’re capable of offering to end users. Budgets for security and access control are increasing for many businesses around the country, especially since a smartly integrated system can reduce shrinkage, improve safety and increase profitability in a number of ways. Security, reliability, cost of ownership and ease of use remain the biggest concerns, but new embedded systems are changing the way businesses can track their employees, facilities and inventory.

ADT is looking to "bring the voice of the customer" into the continuing development and expansion of Z-Wave, the radio frequency (RF) communication and product-level interoperability technology that enables wireless networking of battery-powered devices in the home. ADT is the newest Principal Member of the Z-Wave Alliance consortium. Z-Wave is one of the enabling technologies of ADT’s Pulse security and home automation system, which enables a home's electronics to communicate with each other and with the user. Z-Wave unifies devices like door locks and lighting controls into an integrated network. ADT is the Z-Wave Alliance’s seventh and newest Principal Member, and also the first service-based company represented on the Z-Wave Board of Directors. The other Principal Members are original equipment manufacturers GE/Jasco, Ingersoll-Rand, Linear, Evolve, FAKRO and Sigma Designs. “As a service provider who touches the end user directly, we bring a different perspective that rounds out the Z-Wave board,” says Steve Shapiro, ADT’s Vice President of Industry Relations. ADT was previously a full-level member and has been active in the Z-Wave Alliance since implementing Z-Wave as part of ADT Pulse. Becoming a Principal Member “reaffirms [ADT’s] commitment to the technology going forward,” he adds. The Z-Wave Alliance oversees development and implementation of the technology. The Alliance is made up of member companies participating at various tiers in technology working groups and accessing the technology to develop products. The Z-Wave Alliance includes 160 full-level members involved in developing products and about 110 Affiliate members (mostly resellers and installers). At the top level of the Z-Wave Alliance are the companies that guide development and implementation of the technology, the Principal Members whose representatives make up the Alliance Board of Directors. Shapiro is joining the Z-Wave Alliance Board. Z-Wave technology is used throughout the security and home automation markets, enabling radio frequency (RF)communication and product-levelinteroperability among battery-powereddevices in the home Z-Wave technology is used throughout the security and home automation markets, enabling radio frequency (RF) communication and product-level interoperability among battery-powered devices in the home, including climate controls, door locks, security sensors, appliances and remote control. There are 1,000 or so products from 100 companies that are Z-Wave certified, which means they communicate within a 50-foot range using low power consumption that allows one- or two-year battery life. Mesh networks of these devices, each communicating and also relaying signals from other devices, can extend the operable range to cover an entire house or small commercial facility. Z-Wave enables greater wireless networking in the home and realization of home automation systems with more capabilities. “ADT adds a complementary view to the board based on their knowledge of customer needs,” says Mark Walters, Z-Wave Alliance chairman. “Having North America’s leader in residential security advising the Z-Wave Alliance at the Board level brings a focus to that market segment in terms of guiding the alliance in both marketing and technical development. Security companies now have someone representing them who understands and directly participates in their business.” Principal Members must be nominated by an existing Principal Member and then approved by the Board of Directors. “We are not just a security company, but a service provider for home and business automation,” Shapiro says. “Security is a great platform for automation, and it’s a natural combination.” He notes that 44 percent of ADT customers opt for the ADT Pulse service, and the number has been climbing quarter over quarter since 2010. “It confirms how the different kinds of systems make sense together,” he says.