About ADT Alarms & Security Systems

ADT Alarms & Security System is a security monitoring company that is part of the Tyco International corporation. ADT, once known as American District Telegraph, offers security monitoring services to homeowners, businesses and government. They are now known as a major provider of alarm (fire and burglary), electronic security, building management and communication systems. As a matter of fact, ADT has cornered more than 31 percent of the market in those areas. it now has seven monitoring systems in the U.S. and Canada.

Invented

During the 1870s, telegraphs were the big way to communicate. After a message was received by the local telegraph office, it was then sent in Morse code to another office where it was transcribed and sent to the receiver of the message. There were many telegraph delivery services that only delivered and retrieved messages in their own region. Robert Roebling Clowry then devised a merger in 1874 between the 57 delivery companies into one company, the American District Telegraph Company.

Size

ADT has grown tremendously over the past century. Starting out as a telegraph delivery service, it is now the forerunner in security systems. Not only does it have many authorized dealers around the world selling the product, it has five monitoring stations in the U.S. and two in Canada. It currently controls 31 percent of the security monitoring market.

Features

ADT offers security and monitoring services for home, business and government. The main services for the home include security systems, home health security and video surveillance. The home security systems offer alarm systems and monitoring of the home in case of a fire or break-in. The home health security is perfect for elderly and sick customers. Carrying a pendant or wristband, customers can alert 911 if they have a medical emergency but can't make it to the phone. The video surveillance system is excellent for deterring break-ins and allows customers to look in on their homes while they are at work or on vacation.

The products and services that are offered to businesses are Intrusion Detection, Video Surveillance, Preventive Maintenance, Fire & Life Safety and Electronic Access Control. The government products and services include Access Control, Fire & Life Safety, Intrusion Detection & Control and Executive Protection.

History of

Since being founded, ADT has merged with and was bought out by many top companies. The company was started in 1874 as a telegraph delivering company. In 1901, it joined Western Union. AT&T gained control over Western Union and ADT. ADT became a publicly owned company in 1964. Through the years, ADT continued to grow and was bought by Tyco International in 2002.

Evolution

In the 1890s, the company started in the security protection business using multi-signal electric protection systems. By 1899, telephones were gaining popularity and causing a decrease in the telegraph service. ADT started to work harder to develop its multi-signal business.

After joining with Western Union, ADT separated its two main services into two businesses; the signaling business was one entity and the messaging service was another. From 1910 through 1930, ADT started to be known for fire and burglar alarms. World War II gave the business the best opportunity to grow with security systems. It wasn't long before it became the leader in the field and a publicly owned company. It wasn't until the late '80s that the company officially became ADT and was no longer American District Telegraph.