Video verification and I-View Now, providing more information

SIA and Security Systems News hosted a webinar last week, focusing on I-View Now and what video verification can do for alarm businesses. Presenters underlined the value and importance behind verification, such as the ability to provide police with more information before dispatch.

The panel, moderated by SSN's VP and group publisher Tim Purpura, featured Larry Folsom, president of I-View Now, Michael Keen, VP of commercial sales for Protection 1, and Alice DeBiasio, general manager, cloud services at Honeywell Security and Fire.

I-View Now integrates disparate surveillance video into one unified interface for video verification, making the process easier on central station operators.

I-View Now is also integrated with home automation devices such as Honeywell's Total Connect. Folsom said that consistency is important; as in having the same views for both the central station operator and for the end user checking in on their system.

Some devices, like cameras, are now sold I-View Now Ready, meaning that it can connect with the platform automatically, reducing the amount of install time.

Purpura asked the webinar audience, “What percentage of your current account base requires some sort of verification before dispatching police services?” Just under half said that verification is needed on less than 20 percent of their accounts. Twenty-eight percent need verification for 20 to 40 percent. Fourteen said between 40 and sixty percent of their accounts, and 9 percent said more than 60 percent of their accounts.

Some of these results could be due to non-response cities—areas that require verification before dispatching police. Although, Folsom said, “Additional information is just helpful regardless of the city's response policy.”

Verification was more finely defined recently, Folsom pointed out, referencing the Texas Police Chiefs' definition, established earlier this year.

The panel also addressed the DIY market. Folsom pointed to the difficulty for 911 centers, that calls from cell phones often reach the wrong 911 center.

Folsom said DIY/MIY Market isn't a threat, but instead an opportunity. Keen said that Protection 1 adopted DIY solutions as a way to reach customers outside the company's network, and reach the “tech-savvy” customers that enjoys installing the system themselves. DeBiasio pointed to a potential to eventually upsell DIY customers to professional systems.

The full webcast is available on demand here.