Once upon a time, only the very rich were able to afford interactive security system in their homes. Things have changed, however, and the old fashioned 2G systems are becoming obsolete. By 2016, 2G will no longer work, which means a huge range of customers is going to have to decide whether to upgrade their systems, or whether they want to have a non-alarmed property. The technology of alarm systems is changing very rapidly, something supply supply companies have to be aware of. Simply put, customers want something that does more than just alarm their home; they look for true multi-functionality. So what kind of developments have been taking place? What is this multi-functionality we seem to crave?

For starters, any good home security system now operates through touch screens. These touch screens have a range of icons that link to various interfaces. We have all gotten used to our smartphones and tablets, and these interfaces work in similar ways, with a range of apps. Customers want a single device that protects and controls their entire home. As such, most good new home security systems allow not just for locking and unlocking the home, but also include weather alerts, energy management and temperature control. Furthermore, people want to be able to access all these functions remotely through their mobile devices. An added consequence of this is that home security companies have to change and develop. Staff at these companies has to be trained in dealing with highly technical queries, above and beyond what they have had to do in the past. What customers want is a system that they can customize to their needs. This is why most home security systems now offer a range of different communication methods.

It is believed that the two most important innovations in the world of home security systems are geo-location and managing energy in the home. Geo-location links home security systems to mobile devices. This means that they are able to receive alerts if they are away from home in case the alarm goes off. This also makes it possible to control the alarm remotely. Some home security systems disarm as soon as they sense the mobile within a certain distance. Similarly, it will switch back off if they are a certain distance away. The energy management functionality is very important too. Customers want to be able to control their home temperature, but also various other devices that consume energy. Plus, the system will monitor whether certain devices in the home use unusual amounts of energy.