uControl aims to upgrade your home security

uControl has just given me a quick overview of their new touch-screen control panel for alarm and home-automation systems, and its extremely robust set of uses and applications left me impressed.

First, the touch panel: The specs are pretty impressive for this device: A 7-inch WVGA screen, Freescale processor, broadband connectivity (with Wi-Fi or Ethernet), GPRS connectivity for redundancy (more on this later), and an open software platform for custom widgets. It also features compatibility with all home automation standards (zWave, etc) and can easily integrate into your home alarm system. Check this video out to see it in action. (Thanks to blip.tv and eHomeUpgrade.com for the video.)

So what does it do, exactly? The uControl's main mission is to give you a reliable, function-filled alarm system control panel. It's compatible with current setups, meaning that if you already have an alarm system installed, you can easily connect the existing sensors to this unit for a plug-and-play installation. Or, if you don't have an alarm system at your home, the device can come bundled with wireless sensors for you to place around your home. It's also compatible with camera equipment, so you can easily view locations around your home from the uControl device.

The thing that strikes me as the most impressive is how well uControl has their bases covered. Under normal operation, your device is connected to professional monitoring 24/7, but let's say the power to your home gets cut just before your home is burglarized. The uControl has a back-up battery source for power loss and can utilize its internal cellular antenna (GPRS) to remain connected when the Internet connection is lost. Very cool.

Besides the security features, the uControl device offers many extra functions over your standard alarm panel: read news, check the weather, get updates on traffic, view pictures on Flickr, and more. Also, you can control the panel through the Internet, which means you can control your home security and home automation through the web. The potential for this device is huge.

My only one concern is the security on the device itself. With the ability to control all of the devices functions through the web, one must consider the possible risk of hackers gaining access into your home control panel. Then again, I'm not so sure how tech savvy a run-of-the-mill burglar is.

Very neat stuff. Now for the million-dollar questions: How much? uControl has decided to go through a subscription distribution route, piggybacking on cable providers. Although nothing specific has been announced yet, expect quadruple-play (cable TV, broadband, telephone, alarm system) bundles to start showing up before the end of the year.