Qolsys

What Qolsys does

Qolsys Inc. is a security and home automation hardware company that develops wireless control panels, intrusion sensors, life-safety devices, surveillance cameras, and smart-home peripherals under the IQ Security Products brand. Its platform centers on the IQ5 Family of security panels, which serve as the central hub connecting intrusion sensors, smoke/heat/CO detectors, cameras, and lifestyle devices via a unified control surface. Underlying the product line is PowerG, a proprietary wireless communication technology characterized by up to 1.24 miles of range, dual-encryption, backwards compatibility with prior generations, signal strength penetration for complex environments, and up to 8-year battery life on peripheral devices. The company also supports Z-Wave and Zigbee interoperability to broaden third-party device compatibility, and is positioning PowerG+ as the next-generation wireless evolution.

Qolsys sells exclusively through a certified dealer network in the United States, offering both professional installation and a DIY self-install path. Its revenue model combines upfront hardware sales (panels, sensors, kits, life-safety and lifestyle devices, surveillance) with ongoing monitoring and service revenue that flows through dealer and service-provider partnerships. Customers are segmented into three verticals: Residential (primary), Commercial, and Builder (new construction), each with distinct go-to-market motions but a shared PowerG-based hardware foundation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled quote-by-quote through the dealer channel.

Qolsys was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California, though it now operates from Johnson Controls' Milwaukee, Wisconsin campus at 5757 N Green Bay Ave following its acquisition. Johnson Controls is the parent company, and Qolsys's products and brand have been consolidated into JCI's smart security division under the IQ Security Products umbrella. Reported headcount is 51-100 employees. Public-facing leadership disclosures are limited to Jeremy Mclerran, Senior Director of Marketing, with the main contact point routed through [email protected].

Name

Qolsys

Legal name

Qolsys Inc.

Website

http://www.qolsys.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Qolsys designs and sells wireless security panels, sensors, and smart-home devices under the IQ Security Products brand, built on its proprietary PowerG wireless platform. It distributes exclusively through a US certified dealer network serving residential, commercial, and builder customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart Home Security & Home Automation

NAICS

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)

akta.pro primary industry

Smart Home Security Automation & Integration (Monitored) (HSAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Smart Home Hubs & Controllers Retail (CRACAGAA), Smart Home, IoT & Home Security Distribution (CRAOACAF), Alarm Systems & Monitoring Kits Retail (CRAIAMAG)

Keywords

• Security panels
• Wireless sensors
• Home automation
• Intrusion detection
• Life safety devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Cupertino

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Security Hardware Sales: Sale of IQ security panels, sensors, and security/life safety devices through dealer channel.
2. Monitoring Services: Ongoing monitoring services typically sold through dealer partnerships and service providers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Qolsys designs, manufactures, and supplies intelligent security and home automation control panels together with a portfolio of wireless sensors and life-safety/lifestyle peripherals. Products are sold under the IQ Security Products brand, primarily through a certified security dealer and installer network. Its flagship hardware platform is the IQ5 panel family, built around proprietary PowerG wireless technology.

Product overview

Qolsys, through its IQ Security Products brand, offers a unified security and home automation platform built around its flagship IQ5 Family control panel. The platform is powered by proprietary PowerG wireless technology, which provides long-range (up to 1.24 miles) communication with dual-encryption and extended battery life. The product portfolio spans security (panels, intrusion sensors), life safety (smoke, heat, CO detection), surveillance cameras, and smart home lifestyle devices. All devices fall under the Connected by PowerG ecosystem, with compatible Z-Wave and Zigbee device support for broader smart home interoperability. The offering includes bundled Kits for easy installation, with the POWERG+ generation planned as the future evolution of their wireless technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PowerG: Wireless technology platform used in Qolsys/IQ security products for communication between security devices, featuring extended range up to 1.24 miles and up to 8-year battery life.
• PowerG+
• PowerG Everywhere
• IQ5

Products and services

• IQ5 Panel Family Qolsys's flagship family of security and home automation control panels integrating PowerG wireless technology, designed for residential and light commercial intrusion, life safety, and smart home control. Sold to professional security dealers and installers.
• PowerG Wireless Devices Proprietary long-range, encrypted wireless sensors and peripherals (door/window contacts, motion detectors, glassbreak, sirens, keypads, etc.) operating on the PowerG protocol for use with IQ panels.
• PowerG Everywhere Range-extension solution that expands PowerG wireless coverage across large or obstructed sites for residential and commercial installations.
• IQ Kits Bundled starter kits combining IQ panels with selected PowerG sensors and accessories to streamline common residential security installations for dealers.
• Security Sensors and Peripherals Intrusion and perimeter security sensors and peripherals used to detect and report unauthorized entry, used in residential and light-commercial installs.
• Life Safety Devices Smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide detectors and related life-safety alerting peripherals integrated with IQ panels for residential and commercial safety monitoring.
• Lifestyle Products Home automation peripherals (lighting, smart locks, thermostats and similar lifestyle devices) integrated with IQ panels for residential smart home control.
• Surveillance Cameras Indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras designed to integrate with IQ panels and the broader IQ ecosystem for residential and light commercial video monitoring.
• Extras and Accessories Supplementary accessories and add-on hardware (stands, bezels, replacement parts, modules) used to support and extend IQ panel and PowerG installations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 1.24 miles wireless range
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Johnson ControlscoreOthersJohnson Controls is the parent company of Qolsys. Qolsys products are sold under the IQ Security Products brand through Johnson Controls. The company is headquartered at Johnson Controls' Milwaukee location.
• PowerGcoreTechnology or IntegrationPowerG is a strategic technology partner providing industry-leading wireless communication technology. PowerG wireless has been tested and proven for over 10 years with the largest portfolio of devices on the market. Qolsys IQ products feature Connected by PowerG technology with up to 1.24 miles range, dual-encryption, and backwards compatibility. The partnership includes PowerG Legacy, PowerG Everywhere, and the upcoming PowerG+ next-generation technology.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Abode Systems: Abode offers DIY smart home security hubs with optional professional monitoring and broad Z-Wave/Zigbee interoperability, directly competing with Qolsys' IQ5 panel for tech-savvy residential customers.
• Resideo (Honeywell Home): Resideo's Honeywell Home portfolio includes professionally-installed security panels, sensors, and life safety devices distributed through a dealer network — a near-identical GTM motion and product category to Qolsys/IQ Security Products.
• DSC (Johnson Controls): DSC is a sister brand under Johnson Controls producing security panels and intrusion devices; it overlaps directly with Qolsys' IQ Security Products portfolio and even links from Qolsys' website.
• 2GIG (Nice/Nortek): 2GIG manufactures wireless security and home automation control panels sold through professional installer channels, directly competing with Qolsys IQ5 in the same residential and small commercial segment.
• Vivint Smart Home: Vivint delivers professionally-installed smart home security and automation with integrated monitoring subscriptions, mirroring Qolsys' panel-plus-monitoring model and customer segments.
• Ring Alarm (Amazon): Ring Alarm offers DIY-install home security panels, sensors, and optional professional monitoring — directly competing with Qolsys' DIY/self-install offering and adding direct-to-consumer scale that Qolsys lacks.

Broad incumbents

• ADT Inc. ADT is a large incumbent in professionally-monitored home and commercial security; it overlaps with Qolsys' monitored-security value proposition and competes for the same end customer, but at a much broader portfolio scale.
• Bosch Security Systems: Bosch offers intrusion alarm panels, sensors, and integrated security systems across residential and commercial segments, overlapping with Qolsys' commercial and builder channels at the higher end.
• Brinks Home: Brinks Home offers professionally-monitored residential security with smart home integration, overlapping with Qolsys' monitored security offering in the same residential customer base.

Emerging players

• Snap One / Control4: Control4 provides professionally-installed smart home automation systems that increasingly include security and life safety integration, competing with Qolsys in the high-end builder and custom integration channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/qolsysinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/qolsys
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1505975

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Qolsys