Qognify recently signed a definitive agreement to acquire On-Net Surveillance Systems (OnSSI) and the ONSSI company – Seetec GmbH. The transaction was completed on the 28th December 2018.

In bringing these award-winning technology solution portfolios together under one roof – including Qognify Visionhub, ONSSI Ocularis and Seetec Cayuga – Qognify becomes one of the largest VMS, video analytics, PSIM and critical incident management companies in the world. Qognify is backed by global investment firm Battery Ventures.

Also located in Pearl River, New York, ONSSI was founded in 2002 with the goal of developing comprehensive and intelligent IP video management software (VMS). Today, the company has an established presence in more than 100 countries, where its Ocularis and Cayuga VMS solutions are relied upon by education, government, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, public safety, transportation and utilities organizations. With Qognify’s proven pedigree in delivering successful projects for financial services companies, mass-transit infrastructure, large international airports and seaports, as well as smart and safe city projects around the world, the acquisition sees the company establish a dominant global position in both the mid-market and enterprise sectors.

Seetec GmbH is a pioneer of IP video technology and today a leading provider of VMS software in Europe. The Germany-based company was acquired by ONSSI in 2015 and boasts 100 employees, working out of offices across mainland Europe, Dubai, Scandinavia and the UK.

Steve Shine, CEO and President of Qognify states: “ONSSI and Seetec solutions have a deservedly excellent reputation throughout the security sector. This is the perfect time to bring together our collective pool of physical security talent and technologies, to increase the range of target markets we are able to serve. The partnership also greatly increases the number of customers and partners for the combined business. This is a very exciting agreement for all of us.”

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 30^th Jan to 01^st Feb 2019

Matrix Comsec, a leading manufacturer and provider of Security and Telecom solutions, is participating in IT EXPO 2019 at Fort Lauderdale, Florida held on 30^th Jan to 1^st Feb 2019. Matrix will be showcasing its comprehensive range of People Mobility Management, IP Video Surveillance and Unified Communication solutions at the event. Matrix is known for its customer centric, innovative range of solutions for Unified Communications, IP Video Surveillance, Access Control and Time-Attendance applications catering to diverse and complex deployments especially for the SMB, SME and large enterprises.

Matrix will be launching several solutions for SMB at the event

1. Enterprise Video Collaboration solution, SPARSH VP710 that sets a new benchmark by offering enhanced video and voice capabilities.

2. SMB IP-PBX, SPARK100, an all-in-one communication solution with Enterprise grade Unified Communication and Collaboration.

3. Next Generation Door Controller COSEC ARGO for the Access Control market. The new door controller is equipped with features like 3.5” IPS Touchscreen LCD with Gorilla Glass, Powerful Processor for Ultra-fast User identification, Intuitive User Experience, Vandal Resistant (IK08).

Matrix will also be demonstrating seamless integration between Matrix IP Video Surveillance, Access Control and Unified Communications solutions along with Matrix Video Management and Device Management software suite.

Additionally, at this event, Matrix will exhibit its range of Gateways. These gateways allow easy integration with most of IP-PBX, TDM PBX, Softswitch and Hosted solutions. Award winning series of Matrix Gateways are perfect for enterprise and carrier-class solutions for multi-site connectivity and remote survivability while offering superior voice quality and state of the art routing features.

Talk to our solution experts to know more about these unique solutions by visiting Matrix at IT EXPO Fort Lauderdale, Florida from 30^th Jan to 1^st Feb 2019.

About Matrix

Established in 1991, Matrix is a leader in Security and Telecom solutions for modern businesses and enterprises. As an innovative, technology driven and customer focused organization, the company is committed to keep pace with the revolutions in the Security and Telecom industries. With around 40% of its human resources dedicated to the development of new products, Matrix has launched cutting-edge products like Video Surveillance Systems – Video Management System, Network Video Recorder and IP Camera, Access Control and Time-Attendance Systems as well as Telecom Solutions such as Unified Communications, IP-PBX, Universal Gateways, VoIP and GSM Gateways and Communication Endpoints. These solutions are feature-rich, reliable and conform to the international standards. Having global footprints in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa through an extensive network of more than 2,500 channel partners, Matrix ensures that the products serve the needs of its customers faster and longer. Matrix has gained trust and admiration customers representing the entire spectrum of industries. Matrix has won many international awards for its innovative products.

www.MatrixComSec.com

Contact:

Phone: (714) 453-9756

Mobile: (714) 788-1539

shaun.trivedi@matrixcomsec-us.com

Contact:

abhay.Joshi@matrixcomsec.com

Peter Karlströmer has been appointed Divisional President Security Services Europe and a member of Securitas Group Management. He will start latest on March 4, 2019.

Peter comes from Cisco Systems where he led the business with telecom operators in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia. Before that Peter led the geographic business in the Nordics, Benelux and Baltics. Prior to joining Cisco in 2012, Peter worked with McKinsey & Company for 15 years as a partner in business leadership roles across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“I am very happy to welcome Peter to Securitas. Peter comes with solid competence and broad international experience. His personality and strong leadership skills will contribute substantially to Securitas journey going forward. Peter will be a great addition to our team”, says Magnus Ahlqvist, Securitas President and CEO.
Peter Karlströmer is 47 years old and holds a Master of Science in Business Administration and Economics, and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Lund University. He will be based at Securitas head office in Stockholm.

Smiths Detection has received an order from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to supply CTX 9800 Explosives Detection Systems (EDS) for checked-baggage screening. The systems, which utilise computed tomography (CT) imaging, will be deployed to U.S. airports as security equipment upgrades or as part of enhanced security measures.

The CTX 9800 3D CT imaging technology detects and identifies explosives. The scanners can be incorporated into customised networking solutions and deliver operational efficiencies, including energy savings. Along with being certified by TSA, the CTX 9800 is also approved by the European Civil Aviation Conference as it meets the Standard 3 requirements.

Shan Hood, President of Smiths Detection Inc., said, “TSA’s continued use of CTX 9800 EDS in airport screening upgrades or expansions demonstrates Smiths Detection’s leadership in applying computed tomography to aviation security. This additional order for CTX 9800 EDS will enable even more U.S. airports to protect travellers while ensuring that security screening keeps pace with a growing number of passengers.”

This order follows a previous $70m order from the TSA announced in June 2018 for CTX 9800 Explosives Detection Systems (EDS) to be deployed at ten airports across the U.S.

According to the latest research by IHS Markit, the global market revenues from sales of intelligent ANPR devices are forecast to reach $800 million by 2022 and increase at a compound annual growth rate of 16.4 percent.

The types of applications where automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) can be used has increased and so has the range of offered functionalities. Advances in video analytics and processing power used in modern ANPR devices are reshaping the market says the research company.

(R)evolution in the industry

Speed enforcement devices can now offer more functions than ever before, such as seatbelt detection in vehicles and helmet detection for motorcyclists. The more advanced algorithms used in these devices rely on machine learning and deep-learning techniques to analyse recorded images for seatbelt or helmet presence. This recognition process is very complex, because the ANPR camera needs, for example, to differentiate the image of the seatbelt within an image with a lot of background noise, such as light reflections from the car windshield and shading and obstructed views caused by a driver using a sun visor. The advanced algorithms allow for real-time accurate object detection.

Detection of dangerous driving, which can tell whether a car is tailgating an emergency vehicle or whether it is driving between two lanes of traffic, is another important add-on feature enabled by analytics powered with artificial intelligence (AI).

Red light enforcement is another key ANPR application that has benefitted greatly from advances in analytics. Traditionally there was a need for two separate devices to be deployed in one location – one to read the licence plate of the car and another to record the red light. Modern devices with improved analytics are increasingly able to perform both tasks with a single device, which helps lower system cost and speed up the ticket processing for violations.

ANPR devices are now more likely to have analytics deployed on the camera. They do not require back-office processing software to perform their functions, which reduces the overall system set-up costs and lowers adoption barriers across many industries. Processing power improvements have allowed ANPR devices to become much more compact, further simplifying installation. Advances in video analytics have had a big impact on modern ANPR solutions, which has led to increasing adoption in access control and parking applications, including at hotels, hospitals and airports. These advances allow hotel chains, for example, to offer free parking to their guests at all associated hotels, not just the one where the guest is booked for their stay.

More data, more privacy concerns

Despite the great promise of advanced analytics, regulatory and practical considerations are the two main barriers to broader adoption of ANPR systems.

On the regulatory level, concerns over privacy will play an important role. As ANPR systems gather more data across industries, and additional devices are deployed in more locations than ever, the concerns over privacy of vehicle drivers run high. People are questioning why ANPR images are being recorded, as well as where they are stored and how secure they are. These concerns will have to be proactively addressed by manufacturers and installers alike, to help prevent a public backlash against these technologies.

On the practical level, the biggest barrier to adoption is still system cost. In countries where labour costs are quite low and the concepts of smart cities are not very well developed, the law enforcement agencies may prefer to continue conducting manual checks. Private businesses might not be willing to invest in training their staff in how to operate ANPR devices.

Onward and forward

Advanced analytics are transforming ANPR devices into multi-purpose detection systems, which fit very well with the concept of safe cities and smart cities, despite many other competitive technologies at the core of these systems. The next stage for ANPR systems, according to IHS Markit, is to integrate facial recognition with number-plate recognition. While these two functions have already been combined in some access control applications, the detection is still performed by two separate cameras, mostly due to installation angles and other practical factors. However, in the future, improvements in camera features and analytical algorithms could open the door to these two features combined into one single system, which would greatly improve the investigative capabilities of these devices.