Through the partnership, Axis will be a driving force in Securitas’ entry into the IP surveillance market in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />U.S. Under the agreement, Securitas’ Systems Division will offer Axis’ network video products to its U.S. customer base.

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“As the market leading provider of IP surveillance products, we are a natural fit for helping Securitas, the leading solutions provider within the global security market, enter a new arena,” said Fredrik Nilsson, general manager for Axis Communications.

“Not only will this partnership help Axis expand its U.S. customer base, it will also help further facilitate the security industry’s shift to IP based network video.”

After an initial education phase, Axis’ network video solutions, including network cameras, video servers and application software, will be available for purchase from Securitas. Axis’ IP surveillance solutions will be offered throughout Securitas Security Systems branch offices across the U.S.

“We are always very careful in the evaluation of new potential partners. We need to make absolutely sure that our partners live up to our very high demands on quality and reliability,” said Trygve Kolstad, vice president product management for Securitas Security Systems USA, Inc.

“In Axis, we are confident that we have found one of the best partners and product providers for our customers’ needs for digital security surveillance solutions.”

Under the Schlage brand, these innovative access control products will expand the range of IR’s solutions for airports, healthcare institutions, schools and universities, corporate facilities and other applications that can benefit from faster, less costly installations.

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“We are very excited to bring wireless technology into our portfolio,” said Doug Wright, Vice President and General Manager of Electronic Control Systems for IR Security and Safety. “The business case for deploying the new Schlage wireless system in networked openings is compelling.”

Actual installations demonstrate a wireless solution can have a substantially lower installed cost than an online access control system. Wireless systems use less hardware and install five to ten times faster.

With Schlage wireless systems, it becomes extremely easy to retrofit electronic access control solutions in facilities and applications that have previously held back due to budget constraints or installation limitations.

In addition to providing access control at a door in the form of a wireless lock, Schlage will now provide wireless solutions for elevators, gates, exit devices and electric strikes. Importantly, the wireless system easily integrates into all existing access control systems and customers can continue to use their existing keys or ID credentials.

IR Security & Safety will continue to develop the extensive portfolio of intellectual property assets that Recognition Source has accumulated for wireless access control systems.

Current Recognition Source CEO Fred Conforti will join IR. “IR provides the ideal platform to expand the market for wireless access control,” notes Conforti. “We look forward to working with current and new wireless customers to leverage the combined benefits of Recognition Source and IR.”

The integration will enable security professionals using a pending release of Integral Technologies DigitalSENTRY software, used in DS Enterprise and DS XPress Digital Video Management Systems, to capture and view 360-degree live or recorded video from the DigitalSENTRY interface.

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“Integral Technologies is an industry leader in the digital video industry, and our partnership is a significant step in our efforts to add value to security systems world-wide,” said Clara Conti, President and CEO, IPIX Corporation.

“We are excited to provide Integral’s customers with the groundbreaking ability to pan, tilt, and zoom 360-degree live and recorded video.”

IPIX cameras were used at the 2004 G8 Summit held at Sea Island, Georgia in June, an event classified as a National Special Security Event (NSSE) by President Bush.

In addition, IPIX’s cameras took home the Security Industry Association’s “Product Achievement Award in Digital Video” during the New Product Showcase at ISC West in April 2004.

The deal will see ADT providing its customers with ObjectVideo VEW, a technology currently deployed across the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />U.S. to protect against terrorism and other threats to critical infrastructure.

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“With focus now intensified on homeland security, ADT Australia is aware of the importance in securing our ports, borders and critical infrastructure – ObjectVideo’s software, developed by U.S. military research scientists and used by the U.S. government, will help our customers better protect themselves,” said Jordon Peters, ADT’s Integrated Systems manager.

“For example, port security personnel can use ObjectVideo VEW to create virtual perimeters across land and water by simply drawing a video tripwire directly on a computer snapshot of the camera’s view.”

ObjectVideo VEW, based on artificial intelligence called “computer vision,” features dynamic environmental filters that automatically adjust to challenging and changing outdoor environments; for example, it eliminates false alarms caused by water reflection, white caps and tidal action in areas of interest along a waterside.

Other enhanced features include increased range of detection, refined object classification as well as flow control, which for instance, can detect people traveling the wrong direction in crowded environments such as airport security exits.

“We’re delighted that ADT recognizes intelligent video surveillance as a vital component of a sophisticated security system and has chosen ObjectVideo VEW to increase the effectiveness and flexibility of its solutions,” said Brian Eckert, Vice President of Marketing, ObjectVideo.

The open architecture of ObjectVideo VEW enables it to be easily and quickly integrated into existing video surveillance infrastructures. With a new integrator toolkit, security experts and partners can optimize configuration and performance through tools such as parameter configuration, camera placement and object sizing. There is also a management tool to easily upgrade, maintain and adjust the software according to a customer’s operational requirements.

It’s an agreement that will see the 2 organisations jointly exploiting their highly specialized and complementary video surveillance technologies and engineering skills, with ADI being prime contractor.

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The agreement aims to leverage off ADI’s existing market share and relationships, in particular where the company has considerable experience and a dominant position in provision of total solutions covering design, integration of custom and standard solutions, installation, project management, logistical support and prototyping technology-based solutions.

ADI is jointly owned by major Australian engineering and infrastructure organizations, Transfield Holdings and a leading international defence and electronics company, Thales Group of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />France. ADI has annual sales over $A700 million and 2500 staff.

Recently Zylotech in conjunction with ADI successfully interfaced and demonstrated to senior Australian defence staff at GardenIsland, its IP-based digital video surveillance and recording solutions integrated with ADI supplied thermal imaging sensors for monitoring in total darkness.

These thermal sensors meet the latest security standards of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and some European nations. Zylotech will also work with one of ADI’s U.S. technology partners marketing and selling thermal image and multi-sensor optical surveillance equipment.

Signing of the memorandum of understanding comes after months of discussion and evaluation of Zylotech’s core products, solutions and skill base by ADI.

Offering superior image quality to that delivered by its predecessor, the AXIS 213 PTZ is designed for advanced remote monitoring tasks and is capable of operating under all types of lighting conditions, making it suitable for installations that require 24-hour high quality surveillance.

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The AXIS 213 PTZ is an integrated unit delivering remote pan, tilt and zoom surveillance across standard IP networks. Its powerful zoom and advanced remote PTZ control features make it suitable for a wide range of applications.

The auto focus lens has a built-in 26x optical zoom and Infrared mode for night or poor light conditions. It delivers superior image quality in simultaneous JPEG and MPEG-4 streams (MPEG-4 will be available as a free downloadable upgrade in Q1 2005), with resolutions of up to 768×576 at 25 frames per second (PAL), or 704×480 at 30 frames per second (NTSC).

For installations requiring audio feeds the AXIS 213CM (Connection Module) is available as an accessory which provides two way audio as well as alarm inputs and outputs to the camera.

Other features of this camera include broad integration abilities and a large software application portfolio available through Axis’ Application Development Partners (ADPs). This ADP programme today includes more than 150 companies that offer a wide range of applications designed for use with Axis’ range of network video products.

The security hole could be exploited by hackers or a future internet worm.

Microsoft is recommending that customers patch their computers against the security vulnerability immediately. “JPEG images are commonly used for graphics on websites and digital photographs so this vulnerability is extremely serious,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. “The message, however, is not to panic but to calmly patch your computers now before a virus writer or hacker tries to exploit the loophole and attack innocent users’ computers.”

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A technical bulletin at www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-028.mspx describes the latest security problem in detail and includes links to patches supplied by Microsoft.

Sophos warns users of Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 that they may still be at risk from the flaw, even though Microsoft has declared the operating system itself does not require an update, as the vulnerability affects programs as well as the operating system.

“Although the Windows XP SP2 operating system is not reported as having the vulnerability, if you are running programs on XP SP2 which contain the flaw – such as Microsoft Office – you could be putting your computer data in danger. It’s important that everyone at risk ensures their PC is running the latest security updates,” said Cluley.