WiMAX (News - Alert) testing company Berkeley Varitronics Systems, provider of wireless tools and security products to the domestic and international wireless telecommunications industry, has won additional awards for the Wolfhound family of security products. 

The Wolfhound-LITE allows correctional facilities to enforce an affordable NO CELL PHONE USE policy, since each security officer could potentially be equipped with a cell phone detecting watchdog.

On October 24th, in Orlando, Florida the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference had their annual ceremony that included the 2010 Innovation Awards. The Wolfhound-LITE Cell Phone (News - Alert) Detector won in the "Corrections & Security" category.

The issue of contraband cell phones in correctional facilities is becoming the number one issue for prison officials, Wolfhound officials say: According to the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration “NTIA”, the use of contraband cell phones by inmates has risen as the U.S. prison population continues to expand.”

For example, during 2006 California correctional officers seized approximately 261 cell phones in the State's prisons and camps; by October 2009 that number had jumped to 4,130.

In August Earth Times hadthenews that Wolfhound cell phone detector was tested at the maximum security Bangkwang Prison located near Bangkok, Thailand and located ten contraband cell phones in just under thirty minutes. “And this was after passing through 7 layers of perimeter security,” Wolfhound officials said, adding that the Wolfhound “was able to pick up the cell phones' RF energy even through thick concrete walls.”

About a week later, on November 1, BVS scooped up the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Innovation Competition in the "Telecommunications Industry" category presented by the New Jersey Technology Council, winning for both the Wolfhound and Wolfhound-LITE Cell Phone Detectors.

In addition, BVS was also awarded one of only four first place awards for the products' “uniqueness and ability to succeed,” according to company officials.

Earlier this year Wolfhound was recognized for its entry in the wireless security category at the 2010 GovSec Expo and Conference in Washington, D.C. Combined with the above referenced awards this now makes three high profile awards to date.