VoIP Supply Offers Free Shipping on Sangoma Digital Voice Cards

January 23, 2013 by Nathan Miloszewski

The second best thing to instant gratification might just be free 2-day shipping.

Going on now until January 31, 2013, customers will free receive free 2-day shipping on the Sangoma A100 Digital Voice Card Series which includes the A101, A102, A104, A108, and A116 boards.

Sangoma’s voice optimized hardware powers leading PBX, IVR and call center applications worldwide with their well known quality, reliability and support.

Sangoma A100 Series of Digital Voice Cards offer:

Available telco-grade hardware echo cancellation.
1 to 16 port configurations of optimized voice and data to support up to 480 voice calls or 32.8 Mbps full duplex data over T1/E1/J1 lines.
Expandable BRI solution available with optional echo cancellation.

Each Sangoma Digital Card uses the same high-performance PCI or PCI Express interface that delivers superior functionality in many critical systems.

Get hardware and software upgrades as soon as they’re released. All Sangoma cards in the Advanced Flexible Telecommunications (AFT) family are field upgradeable with crash-proof firmware and can achieve carrier-grade echo cancellation and voice quality enhancement functions for phone systems.

Visit our product page, Sangoma A100 Series Digital Voice Cards, for more information.

TANSTAAFL

January 21, 2013 by Taylor Hamp

I learned the word ‘tanstaafl’ during my macro-economics class in college. While it’s used as a word, it’s actually an acronym. If you don’t recognize it, prepare yourself: There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

Box chain stores carry surveillance cameras that are a couple bucks. Here at VoIP Supply you’ll see them run into the several thousands. Truth is there is a whole lot of quality difference. Don’t worry, this article shouldn’t be preachy…too preachy.

Simple: If you want to keep an eye on the house while you’re away or just need to monitor the front door of the office, a good IP camera would be right for you, such as Grandstream’s indoor GXV3615WP_HD or their new outdoor model GXV3672_HD. The Grandstream IP cameras are easy to work with, all of Grandstream IP cameras can sync up with their Video Phones GXV3140 and GXV3175, and they come included with Gsurf, Grandstream’s free video management software. Grandstream cameras range from about $100 up to around $500.

Basic: If your time is precious or your space is vast, look at a few other manufacturers. You will pay more, but you’ll also get features such as auto focus (instead of having to manually adjust the image—a plus for outdoor cameras that can lose that sharp image when blown around by the wind for so long), true day and night capabilities, tamper detection, and ePTZ. The Panasonic WV-SF548 has several outstanding features but skipped others such as 2 way audio and weatherproof casing which brought the price down about $300 from the WV-SF549, which includes all of those features (most of Panasonic’s IP cameras can be monitored on their KX-UT670 touch screen multimedia VoIP phone, which is pretty cool).

Don’t forget to consider if you pay a little more for one camera, you might not need as many; Vivotek’s FD8161 has a field of view six times larger than traditional VGA cameras which greatly reduces the number of cameras needed. For these types of IP cameras, they’ll run you anywhere from $400 to $1200

Advanced: Finally, if you need your camera to auto-track a person entering a restricted area, identify license plates from a street lamp, compensate for backlight, survive Arizona heat/Alaska cold, or even control other devices based on motion detection, consider a sizable budget. For these tasks, question anything promising all this for less than $1000. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, but it might not be up to your standards: perhaps it doesn’t come with a lens, it fell off the back of a truck in which there is no support available, the list goes on. If you need these features for security, evidence, or proof, don’t skip just because the price tag might be daunting. You simply won’t be happy. Trust us. We’re the experts.

Live Demo of Digium Switchvox

January 18, 2013 by Nathan Miloszewski

Digium_Global Growth_Leadership_Award

If Digium Switchvox is not your current phone system but it’s been on your radar, now’s your chance to see it live, in action.

Click here to register now for the live Switchvox demonstration, this Thursday, January 24, 2013, 2 pm EST.

Seeing is Believing

Digium Switchvox is an award-winning Unified Communications (UC) solution based on the Asterisk communications platform. This live demo is co-hosted by VoIP Supply with Digium’s Switchvox sales engineer Steve Jakab. You’ll get to see why this is no ordinary phone system – it’s the UC system that has the features you need to grow your business:

Presence,
Mobility,
On-demand reporting and more are all included.

Smarter, More Affordable

If you are looking for a smarter, more affordable alternative to add to your product portfolio, the time is right to see the Digium Switchvox system and IP Phones in this demo.

Highlighted features will be:

Admin features that simplify life for IT,
VoIP calling,
Instant messaging,
Comprehensive communications dashboard for each user,
3rd party integration with SugarCRM and other CRM platforms,
Video, and presence.

If you are looking to migrate from a legacy phone system to a unified IP communications platform, you owe it to yourself to look at Switchvox.

Free Report

To show our appreciation for registering, you’ll receive a free copy of the latest analyst research from Frost & Sullivan, the Global Growth Award report that confirms why Digium is one of the top IP vendors.

Watch our live demonstration of Digium’s Switchvox UC platform on Thursday, January 24th at 2 pm EST.

Lay of the LAN

January 14, 2013 by Taylor Hamp

If you’re starting an IP surveillance network from scratch, congrats! You have either a) waited it out until the technology has come down in price or b) waited until the technology advanced to maximize the efficiency of your network…or c) you just happened to join the party right now.
The necessary elements of a residential or small shop IP surveillance network system are few and simple. Even a large system can be easily integrated into a manageable network. However like all quality things it takes time and dedication to get it that way. Conveniently, once it’s created, even if something has to be switched out due to a failure or need to expand to keep up with demands, it won’t destroy all your hard work—you merely replace it or add it while everything else keeps rolling.
Component List:
IP Cameras – There are several types of network cameras each unique to whatever task it is best for. Be it indoors or outdoors, VGA or Full HD, audio or not, be sure to check out several cameras to be sure you’re getting what you want.
Cable (LAN) – Today, most IP cameras are set to work over a 10Base-T/100Base-TX cable. This is a twisted-pair cable that works at the standard 802.3a 10-Mbps Ethernet or 100-Mbps for fast Ethernet. If you have not purchased cable, may I suggest Cat-5? As of 2013, I cannot really suggest going any lower. If it’s the price that entices you, try to resist: anything lower than Cat-5 cabling is that cheap because it’s obsolete and will do you little good. Cat-5e would prepare you for the next wave of improved technology with Gigabit Ethernet built in (1000Base-T), and if you want to go all out and install fiber optic, more power to you—however chances are you’re going to need a media converter because most IP cameras have not caught up that far.
Network Switch – Depending on the type of network you’re creating, you might not need this. If you have one or two cameras, depending on the router you’re running your house phone out of, you could probably plug it into that. If you’re business is running off a switch and you have a few extra ports, go ahead and use those. For a full scale surveillance system, don’t risk running off your SIP/IP switch, dedicate a completely different switch to the system. Also ask yourself if you have power outlets by the camera stations or if you need Power over Ethernet for your cameras and switch. Depending on the circumstances, you could get a switch, PoE switch, or a PoE+ switch.PC with video management software – This is the biggest perk of IP surveillance: you can look in on the cameras from your computer. Most cameras will come with some free version of video software for viewing your security footage, but just keep in mind that this software is free. If you need facial recognition, license detection and the ability to easily find what you need to search for, check out third party Video Management equipment. They might be more than what you want to pay for, but most have a free trial version, so test it out and see if it’s going to be the right fit for you! And if nothing else remember this: In IP surveillance, you get what you pay for.
Storage – Last but not least, decide if you need storage or not. Storage can either be backed up on your PC, saved on a Network Video Recorder (NVR), or an emerging option is to back up your security footage over the cloud. These options will be explained in further detail in other posts, but it’s good practice to consider what kind of footage you’ll be saving and how much memory it’s going to take up!

Extending the Life of Analog

January 7, 2013 by Taylor Hamp

Love your analog camera but the CCTV system isn’t cutting it for you? You’re not alone. A lot of analog cameras are still going strong after the rest of the system bites the dust. In fact, manufacturers have hardware that lets you keep your favorite cameras and give them the network surveillance lift.

The main reason you’re looking for a solution is most likely because the monitor, DVR or VCR gave out…or you can’t find any more VHS tapes. That’s ok, surveillance has prepared for this. Nowadays you can use a PC for video processing and back-up with your analog cameras. There are just a few components you need to have:

Video Encoder: This piece of equipment is what makes it possible to keep your analog cameras while moving forward with digital equipment. VoIP Supply carries models such as the ACTi ACD-2100 and the Axis Q7404. From the analog camera through the coax cable, the encoder takes the feed and digitizes and compresses the data for viewing and storing on the PC. However, any time you convert data, some of the quality will be lost.

Storage and Server: For a single camera to a handful of cameras, a PC with a dual processor should do the work you would like it to do. The dual processor gives the computer the power to process the converted feed as well as perform any basic intelligent video tasks, as long as it’s strictly used for surveillance. If the job description requires several cameras and advanced intelligent video features, quad processors and video servers might be worth looking into.

With these updates, you can maintain your analog cameras and get good use out of the coax cable! Just remember a few pointers:

Video conversion, compression, and intelligent features take a toll on the processing power a computer and encoder can crank out. Be certain to buy the proper equipment to handle the amount of processing that needs to be done!

Give a little thought to the future: analog cameras are made well and tend to outlast their monitor counterparts, but no technology is made to last forever. See if there is a way to create a system that is future-proof and capable of upgrading to an IP Camera System easily!

Top 10 VoIP Products for 2012

December 27, 2012 by Christina Smith

10. RCA VoIP Phones. Name brands you have come to know and trust in your home have begun to emerge in the VoIP market. RCA VoIP phones for instance, along with Panasonic and AT&T, have begun to offer SIP phones that bring the consumer-friendly look and feel to your office. The most popular model, the RCA IP150, runs on an Android O/S and brings the Smartphone user experience to your desk.

9. Cisco SPA112 and SPA122. So long PAP2T and SPA2102! The new Cisco ATA’s are smaller, sexier, and more robust!

8. Panasonic KX-TGP550 and KX-TPA50. With the passing of the Aastra CT Phones, the demand for a corded IP deskphone and a cordless DECT satellite handset was more focused on the remaining options. These options include the Siemens Gigaset and the Panasonic IP DECT phones. Demand for the Panasonic KX-TGP550 corded phone and KX-TPA50 DECT accessory handset soared for small business owners who are not desk bound.

7. Polycom VVX 500. Face it, multimedia is here to stay. The Polycom VVX500 with its smartphone-like icon interface appeals to a variety of business users who are looking for a similar phone experience regardless if they are mobile or deskbound. At $235 per phone, this is no longer a model just for executives. With the VVX 600 right behind it, this trend will continue in 2013!

6. Grandstream GXP2200. As I just mentioned, Smartphones are the interface everyone is used to, and the name of the game is “similar user experience”. The Grandstream GXP2200 is a 6 line multimedia IP phone which runs on the Android 2.3 Operating system. All the business features of a Grandstream phone plus the user defined features of the Android App Marketplace such as Google Voice, Facebook, and Twitter.

5. Patton Gateways. VoIP gateways have come far over the past 10 years. If you are looking to bridge your VoIP network with the PSTN, pretty much any gateway will work. What sets them apart now is customer service and support. Patton offers FREE pre and post sales support and their customer service is second to none. Other gateway manufacturers offer supplemental support packages that are sometimes as much or more than the cost of the gateway itself! For a lower TCO, businesses are turning to Patton gateways more and more.

4. Cisco C20 Telepresence System. Video communications are not going anywhere, in fact in 2013 one of the top trends is less business travel and more meetings supplemented by video conferencing. The Cisco Quickset C20 is just that. Set it up in any room where you desire telepresence. Use it with any LCD or plasma display. Within minutes you will be using video conferencing in point to point situations with any standards based video conferencing endpoint. Add the ease of installation and the FREE 32in LED that VoIP Supply is giving away with each purchase and it’s no wonder that this hot seller picked up huge momentum in the 2nd half of 2012.

3. Logitech BCC950. Another big hitter from the video conferencing world! Whereas the Cisco C20 is a standards based room telepresence system, the Logitech BCC950 is more of a desktop solution for a single user or small workgroups that can be used with popular consumer-based video platforms such as Skype or Google Hangouts. For a small business video strategy, the Logitech BCC950 can also be used with hosted video conferencing such as Cisco WebEx Telepresence or Lifesize Connections.

2. Digium Phones. The lure of many proprietary PBX systems such as Avaya and Mitel is that they are end to end
solutions that are easy to put together and simply work. Now Digium has the same offering for Asterisk or Switchvox users. Imagine a phone made specifically to take advantage of the features available with Asterisk? Or an IP phone that is self provisioning when connected to a Switchvox UC system? The Digium IP phone lineup including the D70, D50, and D40 offers just that. Digium experienced supply issues the first half of 2012 but come September supply was plentiful and these phones quickly became a top seller!

1. Elastix PBX Appliance. With the programming of Trixbox CE halted, Elastix has become the favorite free distribution of Asterisk. The hardest part of using free distributions is getting a hardware platform that it works seamlessly on. VoIP Supply has introduced to North America the Elastix mini and ELX-025 1U appliances that come preloaded with Elastix software and work right out of the box. The Elastix MiniUCS appliance is a great system for small businesses not only because of the rich UC feature set, but because of the low initial cost of under $600. Elastix trumps other proprietary versions of Asterisk because it requires no maintenance or per user licensing fees. If you do want to customize your Elastix software and are not a pro, extended Elastix support packages are available.

Why Do I Need Video Conferencing from Cisco?

December 20, 2012 by Christina Smith

No doubt you have read articles and seen social media posts about the video conferencing craze and why experts are saying that this is where business is going. No doubt since the cost of business travel has skyrocketed and is becoming a more and more critical business expenditure. By adopting and using a video conferencing strategy in your business, you can save up to 50% on your annual travel costs.

How does this really affect you? Why do you need video conferencing in your business today and how hard or expensive is it going to be? As a real business owner, we asked video conferencing expert Andria Baunee these questions.

C20_room

Business Owner: Why would I want video conferencing and why would I want a Cisco system? That sounds expensive?

Andria: Video conferencing is the perfect bridge between old and new. Businesses were once built on relationships. Deals were made with a gentlemen’s agreement and a handshake. Today people are losing the importance of the business relationship for the sake of convenience. Video Conferencing allows you to mind the gap. No longer do you have to sacrifice personal relationships for business relationships or vice versa. This technology has allowed people in every field to bend time and space to literally be in two places at once.

Why would you want Cisco? That answer is easy. Cisco Video Conferencing equipment is well-tailored and silently sings like a toast with fine crystal. The density of the equipment proves its quality and endurance. The shape, texture, and coloration makes for a boardroom centerpiece proudly mounted as the gateway to the outside world. It is easy to use even for people who consider themselves ‘non-technical.” Assistance is just a phone call away.

The cost is surprisingly affordable. While once intimidating, the price tag has softened and is safely affordable for even small businesses. Cisco is not “the expensive option” any longer, even though it is still positioned at “the best” end of the comparison charts. Most companies who have deployed Cisco Video Conferencing realize a savings well within the first year!

Business Owner: The most popular room telepresence system is called the “Cisco Quick Set C20” but, how quick and easy is it really to get hooked up and start using it?

Andria: I have a Cisco C20 Quickset in my office and it was super simple to install. The longest part was unwrapping all the well-packed equipment. All I had to do was plug in the display, the camera, the microphone, power, internet, and turn it on. With the auto-detecting feature, the Cisco unit finds the internet and is ready to make calls in under a minute. The menu is straightforward and the dialing is easy from the remote control.

Business Owner: I already have cameras and displays all over my office – can I use those with the C20 or do I have to buy special equipment?

Andria: You can certainly use your own displays with any video conferencing system. The cameras are a different story. Some third party cameras are proprietary and don’t speak the Cisco language. If your camera is a SONY, you can definitely use it. With a feature called VICSA, you can even control the SONY camera with your C20’s remote control. I have to say, though, that the Cisco camera is second to none in quality. The picture is so clear that it is like looking through an open window.

Business Owner: How versatile is the the Cisco C20 system? Is the C20 good for video conferencing in small offices or large groups of people?

Andria: The C20 is the smallest member of the integrator family, meaning you can use it with enhanced audio visual equipment, like a Crestron system. There are four audio inputs and three audio outputs, two HDMI outputs for dual displays, and a VGA input for your computer. With two camera options, you can definitely use the C20 for a personal office up-to a large boardroom.

Business Owner: What video communication services can I use with the C20? Is the C20 compatible with services like Skype, Facetime, or Google Hangouts?

Andria: Cisco is a standards-based video conferencing solution. What that means is a bunch of manufacturers got together and decided on a language that they would all speak. Standards-based companies include all the major players in the business sector that you have probably heard of and do not include Skype, Facetime, Google Hangouts, or other consumer-grade video calling software. All is not lost! There are several resolutions to communicating with your customer who currently use Skype.

You can use a third-party bridging service to connect your system to Skype, like Vidtel or EasyMeeting. You can purchase a $2,000 hardware-based AV Bridge that will allow you to meet online with your video conferencing system. Or you can invite your business contacts to chat with your system using Cisco Jabber. Jabber is superior in function and quality, and ensures that your information is secure with data encryption.

The Cisco Jabber has a watered-down version that is free for use and great for one-time or infrequent communications. There is a more robust version of Cisco Jabber is available for only $29 per month.

Business Owner: Can several different locations join in on a video call with the C20 and, do they need to have the same system on the other end?

Andria: The Cisco C20 Quickset is a point-to-point system, meaning your office can call my office and no one else at the same time. It does not matter which video conferencing system I have on my end (even though it is Cisco) – the standards-based protocol ensures that our systems will speak the same language. If you want to have more than two sites in the same call, you would need to upgrade to a video conferencing system with a built-in bridge, purchase a hardware or software bridge, or use a cloud-based bridge like Cisco’s MeetMe.

Business Owner: How good is the video quality with the C20? What if the person I’m video conferencing has a slower system or less bandwidth?

Andria: In the early stages of research and development, Cisco painstakingly ran tests for all kinds of scenarios. When they maxed-out their “what ifs” they arrived with a product that predicts error, self-adjusts, and compensates for the shortcomings of a bad connection. Cisco very clearly states that certain resolutions are available at specific bandwidths. There is no guessing needed. If you are considering purchasing video conferencing, be sure to run a network diagnostic analysis on your network – it is free and fast. If you find yourself on a video call with someone who has a poor connection, you can adjust the bandwidth usage in the system menu to let the C20 know to do its best with bandwidth X to ensure that you get the best possible quality.

Business Owner: Will I be able to record video conferencing calls or share data with the Cisco C20?

Andria: Video recording is very common, especially when used for distance learning, pre-hire interviews, and remote trainings. There are a variety of way that you can record with the C20 – Cisco TelePresence Content Server, third-party recording infrastructure (in your rack), and I have even heard of people using a DVR (although this is not supported by Cisco).

Business Owner: Why should I buy a Cisco C20 (or any video conferencing system) right now? Why not next year when I have a better handle on my budget?

Andria: The number one reason you should buy now is because travel in the holiday season is outrageously expensive! With our in-stock systems and overnight shipping, you can start saving as early as tomorrow.

Let’s not forget, too, our holiday special – buy a C20 Quickset and we will include a free LG LED TV with your purchase. Pair that with the potential $139,000 gift from your favorite Uncle Sam, and you could get the entire system free if you deploy in 2012 via the Section 179 tax credit.

What the NHL Lockout is Teaching eCommerce Businesses About Owning Their Own Destiny

December 19, 2012 by Nathan Miloszewski

There’s a great lesson any company can learn from this season’s NHL lockout: Don’t let your business model put all of its eggs in someone else’s basket.

Otherwise, news stories like NHL Dispute Puts Sales for Small Businesses on Ice or, NHL Lockout Penalizes Businesses That Depend on Hockey Crowds, could be about you.

For an eCommerce company like VoIP Supply the NHL lockout equivalent would be what is known as “digital sharecropping” or, “building your business on someone else’s land” as Sonia Simone at Copyblogger explains.

Too Big To Fail

Entrusting the health of your online business to properties you can’t control can be disastrous because they can change the rules (Facebook), disappear (Myspace), or alter your ROI when they stop being free (Facebook, Instagram, etc.).

Even Google can’t be relied upon.

Today, Google is the best search engine to drive traffic to an eCommerce site but that doesn’t mean that it’s too big to fail. Last season the NHL was, arguably, the world’s premier hockey league and enjoyed record revenues. This season it’s affecting other businesses and worse, putting people out of work.

Your business will stay healthy by focusing your attention on properties that you own and control. Again, Sonia Simone puts it best by listing three assets a business should build:

1. A well-designed website with your own hosting account

2. An opt-in email list, ideally with a high-quality autoresponder

3. A reputation for providing impeccable value

Historically Speaking

Overused cliches about history make it easy to ignore their wisdom:

“We won’t know where we’re going unless we know where we’ve been,” or “We’re doomed to relive the past unless we learn from past mistakes.”

Do you nod knowingly and stroke your beard when you hear those expressions when really, all those words are going in one ear and out the other?

Well, don’t cut off your nose to spite your face (sorry, couldn’t resist that historical cliche). I mean, don’t ignore the past and pithy sayings (as annoying as they are) to spite your future. Lockouts have happened before and loads of websites and internet tools have faded away.

Try to control your own destiny as much as you can to stay in the game.

Mark Pollock of RCA Talks About RCA VoIP Phones

December 13, 2012 by Tom Costelloe

Like many companies RCA is embracing VoIP but their switch is a little different, they are making VoIP phones.

While the RCA name isn’t one that will be new to people thanks to their history in the entertainment technologies industry, the announcement earlier this year that they were releasing three VoIP phones may have been a bit of a surprise to some people. When I had the chance to speak with Mark Pollock, Senior Director of Sales – North America RCA Business Phones, I asked him about why RCA decided to enter the VoIP market and about their plans going forward.

RCA IP110 RCA IP120

VoIP Supply – Many people may not be aware that RCA has been in the telephony business for quite some time now. Most people know RCA for the famous His Master’s Voice logo featuring a dog and a gramophone and probably associate the brand with consumer products. Can you explain the history of your phone business and why you decided to enter the VoIP market?
Mark Pollack – Although the RCA brand has traditionally been associated with entertainment technologies, we have long been a leader in business telephony both in terms of our focus on innovation as well as our overall success in the market. We believe our heritage in developing products that are well designed and easy to use has been a key component of our success in this space.

VS – The RCA IP110 and RCA IP120 were the first phones released by RCA. Who do you see as the target user for these phones?
MP – Today’s small businesses are sophisticated in terms of their need for features and flexibility but typically don’t have the resources to deploy and manage complicated phone systems. The IP110 and IP120 were developed to offer the small business owner many of the top features available in higher-end systems together with a very simple out-of-the-box experience. In addition, we offer two years free support and warranty—just in case a business owner needs extra assistance.

VS – The RCA IP150 runs on the Android operating system. How can businesses take advantage of a phone that runs on Android?
MP – Naturally, there is a lot of buzz around ‘smart’ operating systems, such as Android. But the real upside will be in our App store and in the Android community at large. The ability to monitor an office security system, manage large-scale conference calling systems or track phone activity and sync up with a billing system are just the tip of the iceberg of what Android enables.

VS – Are there plans for RCA to come out with more VoIP products?
MP – Yes, stay tuned for a number of new offerings featuring greater flexibility, mobility and a number of features targeted to the small and medium businesses that have come to expect leading technologies from RCA Business Telephones.

VS – After someone has purchased an RCA VoIP phone, what type of support and warranty does RCA offer on their products?
MP – All our products feature two years of end-user support and a two-year warranty featuring Rapid Replacement.

VS – What makes RCA VoIP phones stand out from the rest of the crowd?
MP – We are known for high quality phones that look good, sound great and are some of the easiest to use on the market.

While new to the VoIP phones market, as Mark explained, RCA has a pedigree in the business telephony market and an understanding of the needs and demands of customers when it comes to their phones. To help show how RCA phones stack up against similar phones from other VoIP phone manufacturers he provided me with a RCA VoIP Phone Comparison Matrix.

For more information on RCA VoIP phones, please visit https://www.voipsupply.com/manufacturer/rca or, call 800-398-8647.

The Evolution of Security

December 11, 2012 by Taylor Hamp

In a not too distant past, we’ll say 20 years ago, it was common to be sitting in the cold glow of Dateline watching some surveillance recording of a convenient store being robbed and all you could make out was black and white static footage that barely resembled a dark hoodie and a blurred face.

The old days of just comprehensible analog footage has been completely left behind and digital video has taken its place and moved on.

To no fault of analog; the history and technology of the time is fascinating—interlaced scanning, the absolute need for sturdy coax cable, VHS tapes being changed out every 8 hours—but it just doesn’t have the wow factor anymore. Even modern analog cameras maxing out at 976×494 resolution can’t match the 1280×1024 resolution of the basic 1.3 megapixel IP cameras.

Network cameras are the wave of the future. Currently running as high as 10 megapixels, the resolution of IP cameras far outreaches its analog predecessor. Features such as facial recognition, motion detection, and day night functionality take place directly in the camera which saves some processing power in the server. H.264 compression, auto back focus, Power over Ethernet (PoE) and even wireless capabilities make IT techs everywhere sigh with relief.

There are some analog cameras out there that can hold their own and still going strong, so the technology is out there to keep them relevant and running. But in the same fashion with microwaves, dish washers, HDTVs and smart phones, once you have an IP camera, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.