Most Recent Reports on Convergence

Education: IP Network Basics for Video Surveillance on Mar 14, 2010
Understanding IP networks is increasingly critical to designing and deploying video surveillance. In this special report, we provide nearly 2 hours of video training on the key issues, technologies...

The End of Integrators? on Feb 14, 2010
By the end of the decade, security and IT integrators are likely to be displaced and replaced by the forces of Internet services, commerce and information. While integrators solved a clear business...

Can Remote Video Monitoring be Crowdsourced? on Oct 07, 2009
Crowdsourcing - the process of outsourcing tasks to the general public using the Internet to distribute work - is a hot trend. However will it work and can it compete with traditional remote monito...

Is the Web Replacing Security Magazines and Shows? on Sep 28, 2009
While ASIS show attendance was down and disappointing for the second consecutive year, online traffic to security websites continues to rise significantly. Regular users of online securit...

Social Media Irrelevant to Security Professionals on Sep 03, 2009
While social media (twitter, facebook, etc.) receives a lot of mainstream media attention, social media is essentially irrelevant to the security market. While it may improve, I think it will be a ...

IPTV vs IP Video Surveillance on Jun 09, 2009
Not all video is the same. Indeed, ideal solutions for one video application can be a waste and completely inappropriate for another application. The Growth of Video Solving IP video problems is cr...

Should You Use Twitter for Security Monitoring? on May 23, 2009
Internet luminary Kevin Rose suggests that we cut out alarm monitoring companies through the use of low cost devices and sharing alerts via Twitter. Friends and neighbors can then monitor those ale...

The Value of Open Video Surveillance Systems on May 03, 2009
Everyone in video surveillance praises being open but what does that really mean? And despite the words, how many companies are really open? Significant questions exist about the value of being ope...

Top 5 Mistakes IT People Make in Physical Security on Mar 19, 2009
IT convergence creates high anticipation and anxiety. New people entering physical security is one of the most emotional. The security systems market is a lot like Las Vegas - growing quickly, few ...

Why Analog is Gaining Ground Against IP Video on Feb 16, 2009
Those who think the recession is speeding up IP convergence are likely ignorant or hopeful. Indeed, the recession is dramatically slowing convergence and allowing analog companies to catch up. This...


Most Recent Industry Updates

Features IP Video Market's analysis on Convergence's recent events and is only available to subscribers of the Video Surveillance Professional Service.

The Importance of On-Line Training Videos on Mar 11, 2010
In an industry so focused on Internet based security video, it's shocking and somewhat sad that we have so few on-line training videos for the use of these products. Even more bizarre is that manuf...

iSecurity Virtual Trade Show Reviewed on Mar 03, 2010
Below is a video screencast showing the live iSecurity Virtual Trade Show held on March 3rd. The virtual trade show is meant to be an on-line version of a physical trade show (like ISC, IFSEC, Esse...

Will Emerging Manufacturers Choose Not to Use Integrators? on Feb 21, 2010
We see new video surveillance manufacturers choose business models that eliminate the need for the traditional channel. We think this will become a major issue /trend in the industry over the next ...

The Integrator of the Future is No Integrator on Feb 11, 2010
That security integrators will get better at IT is simultaneously boring and misses the point. It is boring because it's both obvious and the continuation of a multi-decade process. It misses the p...

IT / Security Integrator Partnerships are a Failure on Feb 05, 2010
The PSA, a major proponent of IT / Security integrator partnerships has acknowledged the failure of having IT and Security integrators partner. In January 2009, we called this a "horrible...

Understanding the Benefits and Limits of XML For Security Systems on Feb 03, 2010
While APIs and XML are useful for integrating security systems, their value and ease of use are routinely over-stated. This is nicely demonstrated by a recent contributed piece by a manufacturer in...

iSecurity Virtual Trade Show Examined on Feb 01, 2010
On March 3, 2010, a one-day 'virtual' trade show will be held. Called the iSecurity Virtual Trade Show and run by Security Magazine / SDM, the event will allow people to log in from their...

Is Momentum Shifting Away from IT? on Dec 17, 2009
Canada's SP&T News examines weakening momentum for IT providers in the physical security market. Referencing the November 2009 Securing New Ground Conference, she observes a number of signals a...

Key IT Concerns for Security Deployments on Dec 15, 2009
A US integrator has published a list and explanation of key IT concerns to consider when deploying security systems. While we think many of them make good sense, a few of them may be 'over-kill' or...

PSIM Webinar from Johnson Controls on Dec 13, 2009
As part of Johnson Controls aggressive marketing campaign to expand in the security market, they have released a 1 hour webinar examining and advocating the use of PSIM. Review the PSIM webinar sli...

Why Security Managers Need the Wal-Mart of PSIM on Nov 26, 2009
All of the PSIM companies focus on serving the high end. It kills their chances at making a major difference in the security market and limits their financial upside. Ports, military bases, govern...

Audio/Visual Integrators Moving into Video Surveillance on Oct 08, 2009
IT integrators are not the only ones interested in a piece of the video surveillance market. Given that Audio/Visual integrator's projects tend to use similar technologies to video surveillance, th...

Social Media Not Embraced by Security Market on Sep 03, 2009
While social media (twitter, facebook, etc.) receives a lot of mainstream media attention, social media is essentially irrelevant to the security market. While it may improve, I think it will be a ...

ASIS Security Systems Certificate Examined on Aug 31, 2009
ASIS is developing a new certificate for Integrated Physical Security Systems. This is still under development but the broad outlines and the goals of the program are becoming defined. Review the p...

Convergence Webinar on Jul 09, 2009
Vidsys has released a new webinar that covers convergence. It is a debate/discussion that focuses more on the processes involved with convergence rather than the technology.

UK School Surveillance Examined on Jul 08, 2009
A video report on UK School surveillance: The debate centers around internal school surveillance - viewing and recording inside of classrooms (audio and video). There is a policy in place...

VoIP Providers Moving into Security on Jun 06, 2009
A new survey article from Telcom magazine provides advice to VoIP service providers about entering the video surveillance market. Best comment was the recommendation that VoIP providers b...

PSIM Companies Dangerous Positioning on May 27, 2009
Another pro-PSIM magazine article: This article focuses on all things that PSIM must do. Essentially, it must do everything - total integration. While the goal is noble, strategically, it is ...

Releases CCD Megapixel Camera on May 20, 2009
With megapixel becoming more commonplace, manufacturers are starting to focus on improving image quality and nigh-time performance (for instance, Panasonic won a NPS award for its CCD megapixe...

What is Convergence? Webinar on Apr 10, 2009
What is Convergence? Examining various definitions: Vidsys has an interesting webinar discussing the operational/organizational issues in convergence. It's actually not a typical product pitch. The...

Wireless Camera Kit on Mar 05, 2009
Firetide addded an all-in-one camera with mesh wireless node. With the wireless node, the encoder and the camera all in a single housing, it looks bulky. Nonetheless, this can be useful to simply d...

WiFi 50% Off on Mar 04, 2009
Firetide is offering its new wifi access points at 50% off for the next 6 months. For video surveillance systems, these products are less likely to be used as they provide less throughput than Fire...