Headquartered in Dallas, TX is the American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T (News - Alert)) company, a telecommunication services provider of both fixed and mobile telephony as well as a cable television service provider, high-speed Internet and digital home phone packages supplier. AT&T now has a focus on home automation and security.

This U.S. telecom giant decided a year ago to become involved in home security systems. Now its security platform, “Digital Life” is ready to go primetime to provide any size family or household the ability to control their home from virtually anywhere with a mobile device.

Last week, AT&T revealed it will sell its Digital Life home automation and security packages in 15 cities (Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, LA, Miami, SF, Seattle, Austin, Philly, Riverside, St. Louis, Denver, Boulder and the New York/New Jersey metro area); the same offering will go out to 50 more markets by the end of the year.

At present, American District Telegraph (ADT) Security Services has been the largest electronic home security systems company in the U.S. and Canada with the majority of its revenue placing them above its competition with a higher percentage of the stock market share. However, AT&T plans to do what it takes to place itself above ADT by “developing its own technology [with new types of devices] and selling [them] nationwide, not just where it provides [a] local phone service.”

This action will allow the telecom provider the opportunity to expand the market to increase the percentage of homes that have security systems. It will also help improve its mobile location-based services which will be put to use to provide the wireless connections to be able to monitor one’s home remotely and have access to security cameras capable of detecting intruders from motion and window sensors.

With a connected AT&T home and the right package (offered are Smart Security and Simple Security), users will be able to control household door locks at a distance, use a programmable thermostat to turn it up or down to save energy as well as heating and cooling costs and/or view installed security video cameras using a computerized system either on a PC or mobile device.

Simple Security is the effective, economical package that costs $29.99/month and $150 for the equipment and installation that offers 24/7 door and window monitoring sensors and use of a keypad for arming and disarming alarms; whereas, with Smart Security, one can have enhanced automation and safety features and choose from a range of automation add-ons; it will cost $39.99/month and $250 as a one-time fee for the Digital Life system. 

In sum, AT&T Digital Life offers two levels of security packages; both provide adequate home security for the right price. However, Smart Security is AT&T’s more comprehensive remote security package.

Ralph De La Vega, head of AT&T's wireless division, affirmed that many more systems than expected were bought thanks to the efficiency of the Digital Life system, which was put to the test last year in Dallas and Atlanta. In one occasion, for example, a remote camera mounted on the front porch was triggered by motion sensors discovering a thief who had been stealing packages.

He believes that AT&T's Digital Life packages are ideal home security systems that can help ensure the safety of one’s home by allowing homeowners to know what’s happening when they are not in. With automation, which is likely to be the future of home security, De La Vega said the Smart Security system, which enables one to make use of a camera to check on a home and give remote control to the homeowner to manage his/her entire house, lock/unlock doors, turn on/off lights, a thermostat, the water, and small appliances – just with the touch of a button, is all part of a getting people used to living a different way to effortless control their home and stay connected to the place using a smartphone, tablet or PC.

To know more about AT&T's Digital Life system, be sure to visit the website or check the product demo video which lets consumers see how it works.