iControl, a home security and automation company with several MSOs on its customer list, has acquired Blacksumac, a Canada-based startup that has developed an all-in-one wireless-based platform that carries the “Piper" brand.
iControl said the “strategic acquisition” will allow it to expand its connected home management portfolio and target new markets, including rental properties and apartments, in the U.S. and abroad.
Piper, Blacksumac’s flagship product, is a self-managed and self-monitored device tailored to do-it-yourselfers that integrates a panoramic HD video camera (with the ability to pan, tilt and zoom) and home automation and environmental sensors. Its current lineup of devices touts Z-Wave, a low-latency, low power wireless protocol specialized for home security and home automation products.
iControl said it will integrate its platform with Piper, which sells at retail for $239 and can be packaged with a variety of accessories, including motion, door and window sensors, and smart switches that can turn off lights and other appliances remotely. Blacksumac has developed apps that run on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.
Founded in 2012, Blacksumac raised $300,000 via crowdfunding last fall, according to TechCrunch. The Blacksumac team will remain based in Ottawa, according to iControl, which counts Comcast, Cox Communications, ADT, Rogers Communications and Time Warner Cable among its partners.
“Piper’s unique product offering appeals to a large and mostly underserved consumer market segment,” said Bob Hagerty, CEO of iControl, in a statement. “We remain focused on advancing our connected home management platforms for service providers and growing our connected life ecosystem via the iControl Partner Program.”
This video expands on the product that is the centerpiece of iControl’s new acquisition:
