RCN announced a partnership with InGrid, a developer of digital, wireless home security services, to launch a six-month trial of InGrid Home Security services to new and existing customers in the Chicago and Philadelphia areas. InGrid Home Security offers home security monitoring over broadband networks and gives homeowner’s the ability to control their home's system remotely and receive emergency and non-emergency notifications on any Internet-connected device including cell phones. Security breaches are investigated by Guardian Protection Services, a large privately held security company. The InGrid Home Kit built for the average-sized home, will be offered by RCN at a special introductory trial price of $249 with monthly monitoring at $29.99 per month. A smaller kit, for home offices and apartments covering up to 1,500 square feet is $149 and the 24/7 monitoring service will operate at a billing rate of $29.99/month.

SureWest announced the launch of SureWest Remote Monitoring, a service that allows customers to control and monitor devices in their home from anywhere in the world, provided they have Internet access. The service provides live or recorded video and still images, as well as sensor notifications for things such as motion, door and window activity, water leakage and temperature change, and control of appliances. A starter package of equipment used with the service features an IP camera, door/window sensor, wireless gateway and software/instructions and is available for a one-time cost of $199.99. The service is provided for $9.99 a month or a one-time annual payment of $105.99. SureWest plans to market the service both inside and outside of its territory, even suggesting anyone in the nation can subscribe to it.

This is a great example of a telco leveraging the power and utility of Internet protocol (IP) to try to expand their options (and revenue) beyond their core telephony products and create competitive advantage. They are certainly not the first to do so, but you have to admire SureWest’s approach of looking at this opportunity on a grander scale than just with their local customer base. That’s what many a PowerPoint presentation at many an industry conference has suggested that IP can do for a “local telephone” company. I’ll be the first to admit that we can’t draw any conclusions about the potential success of this venture. It may very well flop. But I do admire SureWest for rolling the dice on it, and getting valuable experience with what the future of the business will indeed look like. That is, utilizing IP to develop and implement a series of revenue generating applications and services, well beyond just telephony, that positions a service provider to effectively compete against all comers.