URC is a longtime provider of universal remote controls for the masses, and in the past decade has become a major force in the custom home automation market. But the company’s audio, video and smart-home control systems have been marketed almost exclusively to A/V and automation specialists.

That’s about to change at ISC West 2016 next month, when the company will introduce HomeSet, “an exciting product line specifically for the home security channel,” according to URC’s exhibitor profile.

The description reads in full:

URC, leader in smart home automation, introduces the HomeSet control system. Leveraging a rich heritage in control technology, URC has developed this exciting product line specifically for the home security channel. It’s complete and provides the conveniences your customers demand including integration with Sonos and Nest products.

CE Pro has no additional details of the new initiative … yet. But this author has a few opinions.

Through URC’s higher-end Total Control system, the company integrates two-way with security systems from Honeywell and DSC. But it’s unlikely URC will be offering Total Control through the security channel.

The company also has a two-year relationship with Icontrol, bringing URC’s A/V control to the SHaaS (smart home as a service) provider’s OpenHome partner program. Icontrol is making an effort to attract independent dealers through the new Icontrol One program, after spending a decade working with mass-market providers such as Comcast/Xfinity and ADT.

Perhaps HomeSet fits in there.

But my best guess would be that URC is teaming up with MiOS, developer of Vera smart-home control systems and related cloud services. Vera announced at CES 2016 in January that professional security monitoring would be available for its DIY security and home automation systems, notably the VeraPlus, VeraEdge, VeraLite and Vera 3.

At the time of the announcement, Vera indicated the new service would launch in March.

URC has partnered with Vera for the past three years, using Vera hardware and the MiOS platform to enable Z-Wave integration for URC control systems. Teaming with Vera for profiessional monitoring would give URC a much-needed RMR business to offer dealers.

On the flip side, will a new partnership harken Vera’s formal entrée into the pro-install channel?

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how URC tackles the security market.

By the way … Major home-automation provider Savant also is hitting up the security channel with its new line of more affordable home control products, starting with the $499 (retail) Savant Remote. For the second year in a row, Savant has a booth at ISC. More importantly, the company has partnered with HAUS, a new company that serves security dealers and higher-volume A/V integrators with education, business services, technical support, networking and more.

HAUS makes its big public debut at ISC this year.

Pro Control, another popular provider of remote controls and home automation solutions for professional integrators, also makes its ISC debut this year, exhibiting in the ADI A/V Pavilion.

Interestingly, industrial-controls manufacturer Siemens filed a trademark for “Homeset” in 2000, describing “home control and information centers” for remote monitoring and control, primarily (it seems) for diagnosing faults with a home’s electronics. The trademark was abandoned in 2002.

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