seen this before?

I see that happening with the "little guy", but it appears that at least one company has argued (the story doesn't state "successfully") that the software in the phones is not the property of a particular provider. I'd be more interested in hearing the results of *that* particular argument. It would blow "Binky" out of the water because they do *not* manufacture their own panels.

that will be veerryy interesting.

'tis interesting indeed, the difference is that Binky doesn't sell "their" alarm panels.

Brinks owns the hardware and the software, regardless who custom made it for them.

The problem is that Brinks *does* sell "their" alarm panels.

really? is this another bassism?

Nope. You only cited the Crashism.