Should call this Alarm.com versus Amazon.
I get asked 2-3 times a year, if I would install or sell my client a Ring doorbell and cameras, well just like Amazon, Ring is well known, original brand and has a marketing giant behind them.
Me: "I would lean towards ADC for my system" And before I can explain here comes the First rebuttal,
Client: "Ring has been around first and invented the technology for doorbell solutions!" or "I love the simplicity" and "It is what I had at my old house"
I guess this is somewhat true as long as your talking doorbell because they had DorBot founded by Jamie Siminoff and Bot Home Automation, Inc. Nov. 2013 then Ring in 2014.
I have no problem with these guys (Before Amazon) and I do not dislike their Doorbells or peepholes.
And absolutely loved their flood light motion activated cameras!
And Shark Take Kevin O'Leary missed on the deal, Kevin would have licensed the Ring to everyone including ADC. LOL
| WikiPedia - In 2013, Siminoff and Doorbot appeared on an episode of the reality series Shark Tank to seek a $700,000 investment in the company, which he estimated was worth $7 million. Kevin O'Leary made an offer as a potential investor, but Siminoff declined it. Siminoff estimated that the appearance led to $5 million in additional sales. |
But Alarm.com Funded by Micro Stratigy In 2000! 13 years before DorBot.
Alarm.com The company has developed its platform to include smart home and business software that incorporates video monitoring, energy management and a range of home automation capabilities by 2003.
In February 2009, Alarm.com was acquired by ABS Capitol Partners for 27.7 million, In 2015, Alarm.com filed for an initial public offering and went public that June (and now they do 150 million a year!)
Steve Trundle Not founder but close. And I like this guy.
Stephen Trundle has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since May 2003 and as a member of our Board since October 2003. Previously, Mr. Trundle served in various positions with MicroStrategy Incorporated, including as Vice President of Technology and Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Trundle holds an A.B. in Engineering and an A.B. in Government from Dartmouth College.
Amazon and Ring Allegations
"Good news," and "bad news," is still news -- if accurately reported -- regardless of where it comes from, or how it makes us feel.--TRUMP
This is a lot of my problem with Ring and Amazon services and products. And they want to be our security company? No thanks, try not to let the government in wolves clothing into your business or home --Todd.
| WikiLink - In 2017, ADT sued Ring for trade secret theft in the case of ADT vs. Mike Harris relating to Ring Alarm. Sales of the alarm product were preliminarily blocked by a judge in late 2017. The case ended up settling for an unconfirmed $25 million. With a reported burn rate of $10 to $12 million per month and incurred legal expenses, Ring needed to raise cash. The ADT settlement, however, spooked investors causing the CEO to seek a quick sale. |
| Wikilink - On April 12, 2018, Ring was acquired by Amazon for approximately $839 million. Emails obtained by congress revealed that, despite Amazon executives' concerns about Ring's quality and security, Bezos valued Ring for its market share, not its technology. One email revealed that Amazon evaluated sales data before buying two of the top four wireless home security device manufacturers. |
| WikiLink -
In May 2018, Ring launched the hyperlocal social media Neighbors, which is designed to allow users to anonymously discuss local safety and security issues, as well as share photos and videos captured with Ring products. The service also allows local police departments to post bulletins, and for them to request footage from users that may assist in investigations. In September 2019, the House Judiciary Committee began investigating the acquisition of Ring, Blink, and Eero as part of an investigation into digital markets. In September 2020, Amazon announced a new platform known as Amazon Sidewalk, which is designed to allow internet of things (IoT) devices to communicate over the internet via a wireless mesh network formed by devices such as their Echo speakers (Alexa). Ring products are supported by the platform. The United States House Committee on Oversight Reform launched an investigation into Ring's data-sharing partnerships with local governments and police department on February 19, 2020. In October 2020, Congress published the report on competition in digital markets, featuring their findings on acquisitions entrenchingAmazon Alexa's dominance of the 'internet of things' (IOT) Along with the rationale for acquiring Ring, the investigation also surfaced Siminoff's involvement in the Eero acquisition, hinting at the Ring Alarm Pro: An Eero + Ring hub launched in 2021. In April 2021, ADT Inc. sued Ring for trademark infringement, after re-introducing blue octagonal signs that were too similar to the ADT logo. Ring first agreed to cease using a similar logo in 2016 following a prior complaint. In September 2022, Amazon-owned MGM Television launched a syndicated television series co-branded with Ring, "Ring Nation" which highlights viral video recorded using phones home security cameras, and smart doorbells. Despite its title, the series is not exclusive to footage captured with Ring products. In March 2023, Ring founder Jamie Siminoff stepped down as CEO to become "Chief Inventor". He was replaced by Elizabeth Hamren, a former executive at Discord, Oculus and Xbox. In May 2023, the Federal Trade commission reached a $5.8 million settlement with Ring, asserting that Ring "[compromised] its customers’ privacy by allowing any employee or contractor to access consumers’ private videos and by failing to implement basic privacy and security protections, enabling hackers to take control of consumers’ accounts, cameras, and videos. Among many claims, the complaint alleges, "between June and August 2017, a Ring employee viewed thousands of video recordings belonging to at least 81 unique female users (including customers and Ring employees) |
I need to end this long rant.
Alarm.com Is not a Device company selling doorbells or flood light cameras.
They do have them and are bringing some great stuff to market here in 2025
- They are a Software company focused on the security systems that protect our homes, churches, businesses, schools and Government facilities.
- They are a Server in the cloud running the software that connects Security IOT devices securely.
- They are a cloud service that integrates and monitors our electronics that control Energy, irrigation, security, video, temperature, HVAC, flood detection.
- They are introducing next level notification systems to keep us informed of Alerts, emergency and weather, to the devices we use every day.
- They work with Sonos :( This one need work.
- They work every day to preform for their investors, this means they see a need and they fill a need, like the purchase of OpenEye and Shooter Detection System (SDS), Analytics Companies and New Monitoring solutions like moonlight.
- Alarm.com is making these systems available to WFS the professional dealer, and we get these systems out there.
- OpenEye cloud managed enterprise servers can support any camera system, Multi image, 12-20 MP, PTZ, License plate capture.
Integrates notification and events to Alarm.com. - SDS - Shooter Detection Systems can warn you of shots fires and triangulate the direction sending police to the area of need, and even tell them the caliber and type of weapon used. this can save lives.
In my opinion
This is why Most professional security alarm companies do not want to sell or install Ring or any of it's products and services. It's just not a security device connected to a real security system like Alarm.com.
I am proud Dealer for Alarm.com, I believe in the company,
I have invested 200 of my close friends and clients with their systems.
If you like to get a bid for a professionally installed, serviced and maintained by a local professional contact me here at Worth Fire and Security "It's Worth It"
And now you know the rest of the Storey.
(I reserve the right to update this blog as new information becomes available to me)