iControl Networks Acquires Creator of Piper All-in-One Home Awareness and Automation Device

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- iControl Networks, a leader in connected home technology and innovation, today announced that it has acquired Blacksumac Inc., the creator of Piper, a Wi-Fi-enabled all-in-one Home Awareness and automation device. This strategic acquisition allows iControl to expand its connected home management offerings to new markets, including rental properties, multiple-dwelling residences and international audiences that desire the peace-of-mind of home awareness at a very affordable price point.

"Piper's unique product offering appeals to a large and mostly underserved consumer market segment," said Bob Hagerty, CEO of iControl. "We remain focused on advancing our connected home management platforms for service providers and growing our connected life ecosystem via the iControl OpenHome™ Partner Program. At the same time, we are excited to expand into new, untapped markets that will bring us one step closer to our vision of a home management solution for every household, so people worldwide spend less time managing their lives and more time living them."

Piper is a self-managed, self-monitored device that combines unique HD panoramic video, home automation and environmental sensors into a single, elegant product that users interact with on their Internet-connected devices. Piper, powered by iControl, will complement iControl's existing portfolio of connected home platform solutions for service providers, which includes:

• iControl Converge™: The platform behind connected home solutions offered by leading broadband service providers, including an all-in-one touchscreen, monitored security panel and a robust ecosystem of OpenHome-certified life safety and lifestyle devices.
• iControl Touchstone™: A self-installable, self-managed gateway solution that provides home management for the OpenHome ecosystem.
• iControl Connect™: Designed specifically for home security and telecommunications companies, this solution combines Wi-Fi and Z-Wave technologies with next generation security control panels.

"We are incredibly excited that Piper is joining forces with iControl, and look forward to bringing iControl's ecosystem to the next level," said Russell Ure, CEO of Blacksumac. "We designed Piper to serve the needs of users who typically would not have access to Home Awareness and automation, or those who are still learning about the technology and its benefits. With iControl's proven infrastructure and industry-wide reputation, we believe Piper will grow to serve a global, emerging market."

The Piper team will remain located in Ottawa, Ontario, and will immediately benefit from the scalability and robustness of the core iControl OpenHome architecture. 

For more information, please visit www.icontrol.com and www.getpiper.com.

About iControl Networks
iControl Networks is a technology and innovation leader with a vision to provide a connected home solution for every household, so people worldwide spend less time managing their lives and more time living them. The iControl software platform is deployed by home security companies, broadband service providers and utilities to make the connected home a reality. Further pioneering the next generation of connected living, the iControl OpenHome™ Partner Program is the first community for application and device makers to partner on a common platform.  Venture investors in iControl include Charles River Ventures, the Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers iFund, and Intel Capital, with strategic investments from a variety of service providers including ADT, Comcast Ventures, Comporium and Rogers Communications.  For more information about iControl Networks, visit www.icontrol.com.

About Blacksumac
Blacksumac is the creator of Piper and was founded in 2012 by Russell Ure and John Criswick. Blacksumac is an Ottawa startup engaged in engineering design and technology development. The company's product focus is remote presence-based smart home and business technology. For more information, please visit the company page at www.blacksumac.com and Piper product page at www.getpiper.com.

SOURCE iControl Networks