The Value of Open Video Surveillance Systems

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 open, given that most vendors praise open-ness but sell their own packages of cameras and video management.

A few months ago, I explored this topic at the Milestone partner's conference. Below is the unedited video from that presentation.

One of the most intersesting elements in the debate is that most vendors depend on selling packages of products. This is obvious for the large analog incumbents but this is also an important force for new entrants like Cisco and IP focused companies like Mobotix and ACTi who both leverage their own Video Management Software which they either provide free or at far lower costs. Even Axis certainly benefits from a bundle of their cameras and CamStation software. So how important is it to really be open?

[Note: I was not paid by Milestone to speak at this conference and only my hotel expense was covered.]