Megapixel IP Video Cameras herald

The next technology wave of video surveillance

October 2006: Milestone Systems interviews Roger Finger, Principal and Senior Consultant at systems integrator IP Pro Tech in Oregon, USA, revealing expert tips on how to sell and implement the new technology.

IP Pro Tech is a company specializing in IP Video Surveillance.  I understand that you don't even sell DVR systems.

No, that would be recommending our customers to invest in a sunset industry.  There hasn't been anything really innovative happening there in a long time.  Analog cameras are by definition limited to 480 TV lines (NTSC).  Have you ever tried to read a license plate on television?  It just doesn't work.

The biggest thing thats happening in the video surveillance world right now is megapixel cameras, and they are only available on IP Video networks. 

We constantly fight the battle of analog versus digital in the customers mind - the industry is in a state of transition right now.  The DVR guys are going to come in a little bit cheaper than IP Video, so we have to justify why IP systems are worth a premium price.

How do you overcome the cost argument?

Its all about Return on Investment (ROI).  This system will be in place for approximately 5-10 years.  What is the likelihood that you will experience a loss during that period?  If there are any cases of theft, shrinkage, workman's comp, or liability claims the system will pay for itself overnight.  When you amortize the purchase over a 5 year life cycle, the cost differences between DVR and IP Video vanish and the real question becomes How well is this system doing its job?

Lately, with the megapixel cameras, we have a very dramatic talking point.  We liken it to HDTV.  If you were going out to buy a camera right now for personal use, what would you buy?  Would you buy analog or digital?  You would buy a digital camera, of course, and with the most pixels you possibly could. Would you buy a VCR or a DVD player? Of course you would buy the DVD; you know that the VCR is obsolete.

Its the same thing with IP video surveillance systems. You can buy a DVR now, but you know you're at the tail-end of that technology lifecycle.  I would be very cautious about buying a low end DVR from a no-name manufacturer. There's a lot of junk out there now.  In the long run you get better value with the IP approach because you are investing for the future.

Our best selling points are:

  Upgradeability & Expandability

  Simpler wiring, compatible with existing network infrastructure

  Familiar IT environment:  Uses the same equipment your IT staff is already familiar with

  Overall quality especially with high resolution cameras

What is the best transition strategy for companies that already own DVR systems?

We often encounter companies that have an existing DVR system and lots of analog cameras already in place.  The saddest thing is when we hear that they just upgraded to a new DVR!  There are better transition strategies   You can switch over to IP Video now by running the analog cameras through a video encoder.  Its a short term strategy, but a good way to preserve the existing investment.  Or you can start small by adding megapixel cameras on high value areas like merchandise racks or bank teller lines.  IP Video systems scale beautifully there is no artificial limit to expansion (unlike DVR systems where you run out of analog ports).

This is all very exciting, but arent Megapixel cameras more expensive because they are on the leading edge?

Megapixel cameras are very cost effective because they can replace a number of standard cameras, There is so much more detail and coverage, it takes fewer cameras to do the job and they do it better.  They work best when there are long unobstructed view lines.

Surprisingly, the cameras arent that much more expensive, but system costs are higher.  They produce so much data that youve got to increase the storage and CPU requirements.  As for being leading edge, its an emerging technology and with any kind of new product, theres a catch-up period for software support. Milestone software already supports a couple of Megapixel cameras, and there are more on the way.

You seem to be a forward thinker, so what is the next big opportunity?

The next big opportunity will be the integration of IP video with access control. IP Pro Tech is beginning to offer these types of IP Access Control Systems. The most obvious application is secure door entry with a remote key lock that triggers the IP video camera, either taking snapshots of people as they badge in or from a central security desk buzzing people in after monitoring that they are who they should be.  This integrated solution is relevant for lots of government accounts, secure IT facilities, and educational institutions. 

Any Access Control solution we would recommend would have to integrate with the Milestone IP video platform.  Two are at the top of our list: Paxton Access, a U.K. company that now has an office in San Jose, and S2 Security Corporation out of Wellesley, Mass. both are Milestone Solutions Partners.  Our preference would be a solution that could run on the same server.

Thinking even further ahead, Im intrigued by what happens when you accumulate a very large network of cameras.  Here in Portland there are dozens of web cams stationed along the highways to help us commute.  Would it be possible to dramatically reduce crime if you put a camera on every street corner?  New Orleans embarked on just such a project in 2003 with a wireless video surveillance network.  When Katrina hit, the network was very quickly rebuilt and became a life line for telecommunications and situational awareness.  Im interested in the human impact of this technology.

About IP Pro Tech

IP Pro Tech provides custom IP based CCTV solutions with the latest in IP network video technology, like high resolution megapixel clear images, high storage capacity and superior performance. IP Pro Tech offers comprehensive data and network design, installation and upgrade services, needs assessment, infrastructure design, and pre-budgeting.  IP Pro Tech is a Certified Milestone Partner, which means that they are qualified through special certification training to implement the top-of-the-line IP video surveillance software from Milestone Systems.  www.ipProTech.com

About Milestone Systems

Milestone is the world market leader for open platform IP video surveillance software, according to IMS Research and Frost & Sullivan. Built with APIs for integration and support for the widest choice of network hardware, Milestone products are robust and proven in operation on 150,000+ cameras globally, sold through authorized partners in 60 countries. www.milestonesys.com