The two companies have formed a joint venture company, called Central Monitoring Services India Pvt. Ltd. (CMIPL), to provide subscription based security monitoring and response services. In fact, CMIPL has already started work in Delhi from October 11.

"Earlier, Tata Honeywell had done a survey across the country and found that there was a huge demand for last mile security solutions, but could find no security organisations that provided the service," said Mr Salil Kumar, CEO, CMIPL.

Last mile solutions entail response services in case of an emergency, be it a medical emergency, a fire, a dacoity or a burglary. The subscriber has to buy high-tech security gadgets like sensors, alarm systems and detection devices from CMIPL and install them in his house. "The security gadgets installed at a client's place will be connected to our central monitoring station and it will have an alarm system at the local level," explained Mr Kumar. "In case of any crisis at the client's end, the control panels set at the client's place will generate alarm signals at the Central Monitoring Station as well as in the local neighbourhood."

The alarm will generate a real-time response service. "Analysing the intensity and the nature of the emergency, the Central Monitoring Station will inform the CMIPL mobile security teams, which will rush to the client's rescue," Mr Kumar explained.

For such emergency help, you have to pay for the gadgets, their installation and CMIPL's response service. According to Mr Kumar, the cost will vary according to the number and kind of security gadgets you need; prices, however, begin at Rs 12,000. CMIPL's response service costs between Rs 250 and Rs 2,000 per month. Special services, such as those a jewellery shop would need, cost more.

CMIPL provides three types of services: 24-hour security monitoring, 24-hour security monitoring and response at night, and 24-hour security monitoring and response.

As with everything, there is a flip side here, too. So far, CMIPL has no collaboration with the police, the fire stations or any hospitals and nursing homes. "In case of a client's emergency, we only inform the fire brigade or the police or arrange for an ambulance, as the case may be," Mr Kumar revealed. So, if you think that, say, in the case of a medical emergency, the CMIPL response team will take care of everything from arranging an ambulance to taking and admitting the patient in hospital, then hold on. CMIPL will only arrange for an ambulance.

Further, to subscribe to CMIPL's service, you must have a telephone at home-the only communication link between a subscriber and the Central Monitoring Station.

On the positive side however, the subscriber can take advantage of CMIPL's good relations with the police and the fire brigade, etc, which comes in handy in rendering prompt assistance.

Since the Tata Honeywell and Group 4 Securitas joint venture set up shop, another major industrial and personal private security service provider, Topsgroup, has also announced its plans to set up a security response division.

According to Topsgroup's regional director (northern region), Col. K K Nanda, the company hopes to set up its Delhi response service division in three months. Topsgroup aims to peg its prices much higher. Gadgets will cost a minimum Rs 50,000 and the subscription, Rs 5,000 per month.