Comcast Digital Voice and Brink's Home Security Join Forces
Comcast and Brink's Home Security® have joined forces to make it easier for customers to install and enjoy the latest home phone and security technologies. For customers who have both Comcast Digital Voice phone service and Brink's Home Security service, the two companies plan to deliver a better overall experience—with more reliable alarm signal transmissions, faster installations, fewer service visits, and seamless customer service calls.
Comcast and Brink's Home Security expect to launch this program in up to eight markets by year-end, with plans to roll it out to all markets the companies have in common. The initial markets include: Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis and Jacksonville. The companies have coordinated operations and cross-trained their technical and customer service teams in select markets to help ensure a smooth installation. Designated employees from both companies are well-versed in how the respective technologies interact.
"We are committed to providing Comcast Digital Voice customers with high- quality home phone service that works easily with the reliable home security services they expect," said Catherine Avgiris, SVP and GM, Comcast Voice Services. "We have been aggressively working to partner with industry-leading home security companies, such as Brink's Home Security, to offer Comcast Digital Voice customers a seamless installation experience, quality service, and knowledgeable technicians that can answer their questions."
"Brink's chose to work closely with Comcast because of the key advantages that cable phone offers, including the routing of calls over a managed network, instead of the public Internet," said Shawn Lucht, Vice President of Business Development, Brink's Home Security Inc. "Additionally, Comcast shares our commitment to deliver top tier services and a positive customer experience."
The companies have begun to co-market their products to new and existing customers. Brink's is giving Comcast Digital Voice customers a special value offer, which includes a free security needs analysis, discounted installation, and a free second keypad installation. In addition, customers with a monitored home security system may be able to save up to 20 percent on their homeowner's insurance.
Comcast Digital Voice calls travel over Comcast's privately managed network, rather than the public Internet used by Internet voice services. Additionally, Comcast Digital Voice comes standard with battery backup in the event of a brief loss of power in a customer's home, and it is installed by a professional technician. Currently 25 percent of Comcast Digital Voice customers are estimated to have home security systems.
The companies say their arrangement confirms the compatibility of cable Internet Protocol (IP) phone and home security services at a time when an increasing number of consumers are selecting cable phone service. According to a new economic study conducted by Microeconomic Consulting and Research Associates (MiCRA) referenced in the press release for the collaboration, nearly 24 million Americans will purchase phone service from their cable companies by 2011, further underscoring the trend of massive cable phone adoption.
For more information, see the press release Comcast and Brink's Home Security Put Customers First With Latest Technologies.
