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SECURITY
42
IP security cameras:
a growing opportunity?
Jeff Root explains what resellers should look for in a
security camera
which only shows live streaming, or a true
security camera, which allows you to record
to SD card or the cloud.
A cloud storage option is key for
successful monitoring and security. A
burglar could easily steal a camera or SD
card and switch off the power. But if the
device is recording to the cloud, some
footage will have been captured and stored
in the cloud for viewing later.
On the better cameras, cloud storage
is included free or, at least, as an optional
upgrade, which could provide resellers (and
manufacturers) with an ongoing revenue
stream.
Image quality
A second major consideration is image
quality. HD cameras are available but
you will need to be mindful of the upload
bandwidth required to stream a live image.
In my experience, setting the camera
stream resolution to 720p reduces the
upstream demand and produces perfectly
adequate images.
Easy set up
Simplicity is key to getting users to buy into
a concept and that means, above all else,
simple set up. Look for WPS pairing and
easy to use phone apps that are clear and
not misleading. It’s surprising how many
products still require IP addresses and Mac
info to be input manually – this is a sure
way of telling how old the software is.
Selling points
Then, there are all the selling points
manufacturers use to differentiate one
product from another. The key ones in
this market are camera resolution, night
vision options, real time alerts, cloud
storage options, a two-way audio capability,
scheduling (the ability to turn a camera
on at specified times) and regular OTA
firmware upgrades from the manufacturer.
Home automation
As with all technology products,
specifications for security cameras are
constantly and rapidly evolving. With the
introduction of the IFTTT standard, the
technology has jumped again by enabling
users to integrate security cameras with
home automation systems and devices
such as Hive, Alexa, Philips Hue and many
more. You could, for example, set up the
camera to take a snapshot when, and only
when, a light is switched on – very handy
for seeing who’s pilfering stationery from
the storeroom.
Legal responsibilities
As with every recording device, there are
laws surrounding filming and privacy. If you
are recording in an office or public space,
you should always alert people to the fact
by displaying appropriate signage. This in
itself could act as a deterrent.
Other considerations for resellers are
margin, of course, as well as whether to go
for an established brand, which consumers
will find reassuring, or a less well known
vendor that might help you stand out in a
crowded market – as long as the product
ticks the right boxes.
Here are a handful of products that,
in my opinion, are worth a closer look:
Nestcam, Spotcam HD, Netgear Arlo,
Samsung Smartcam SNHP6410 and the
Panasonic KXHN6002.
It’s fair to say that in recent
years, with the emergence
of affordable, wireless IP
security cameras, the need
for expensive installation and
lots of wires trailing around
a house has disappeared. This
is great news for property
owners – and for resellers
looking for new markets
to address.
Old analogue security systems are
still available, but they lend themselves
to a specialist reseller environment. For
technology resellers, IP security cameras
are a much more attractive proposition.
They have broad appeal and a mass
market to sell into – today, every home or
business could have some sort of camera
or monitoring system installed, providing
reassurance and the ability to check up on
a building remotely.
In fact, just about everyone is a
potential buyer. IP protocol and WiFi with
simple WPS security are standard across
every industry and home in the country,
and with the emergence of the smart home,
security cameras are only going to become
more common – Big Brother is here to stay.
So, what do you need to know to
start addressing this market? What is the
market looking for? How do you sell the
benefits to end users? And, with an already
huge selection of products to choose from,
how do you pick the right products?
Cloud storage
The first thing is to determine whether the
product in question is just an IP camera,
HD cameras are
available but
you will need
to be mindful
of the upload
bandwidth
required to
stream a live
image
Panasonic comes out on top
Panasonic has won a blind shootout of laser projectors organised by UK Systems Integrator Pure
AV. A number of 6,000 lumens laser projectors from Canon, Christie, Digital Projection, Epson,
Panasonic and Sony were judged by industry professionals at the Victoria Warehouse, Manchester.
The shootout assessed uniformity, brightness, contrast, colour reproduction and greyscale. The
1-chip DLP Panasonic PT-RZ660 took first place with a score of 41.2 out of 50. Designed for
intensive usage and long lasting brightness in education, museums, exhibitions and digital signage
applications, the RZ660 delivers high resolution and a brightness of up to 6,000 lm (ANSI).
Equipped with dual laser modules, a dust-resistant optical block and a long lasting laser engine, the
projector is designed to be maintenance free for up to 20,000 hours.
