QNAP Next Generation NVR’s

June 22, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

We’ve updated the QNAP line of network video recorders for IP surveillance video storage and playback.

Popular models of discontinued QNAP NVR Surveillance Recorders have been replaced with new generation models powered by the latest Intel Atom processors such as the affordable VS-2004L (4-channel) and the VS-2008L (8-channel) consumer-ready standalone systems.

Mobile Viewing App

QNAP updates include a mobile viewing app that keeps an eye on your IP cameras remotely via iPhone, iPad, or a Windows PDA with instant alerts sent to your mobile device should an event occur.

Choice of Hard Drives

On all QNAP NVR’s with multiple hard drive bays IP Camera Supply offers your choice of:

No hard drives.
1 TB hard drives.
2 TB hard drives.
Any combination of the above.

Total Package

“QNAP surveillance systems are a comprehensive standalone solution for recording, storing, and viewing surveillance video,” said Garrett Smith, Chief Marketing Officer at IP Camera Supply. “QNAP NVR’s are so simple to set-up and use it’s no wonder our customer look to them first and we’re excited to offer these new, more powerful editions.”

Need help making a choice? Check out the Guide to Selecting to Network Video Recorders.

Cisco loves giving away money!

June 21, 2011 by Christina Smith

When you hear the word ‘Cisco’ you may think Fortune 100 company, large enterprises, expensive equipment, trusted namebrand… But did you know that Cisco also loves to give away money???

It’s true. Cisco is always running great programs to help make their equipment more affordable so that everyone can afford to be running an efficient and trustworthy network.

The trick is to be in the know and we at VoIP Supply would like to let you know about some great Cisco opportunities to save money and even earn money this summer from Cisco!

Get 5 for the price of 4

Cisco is running fantastic specials, basically a buy 4 get the 5th free, on their three most popular IP Phones and switches!

If you are going to be buying the equipment anyway, make sure you are buying it right! When you add any increment of 5 of these phones or switches to your cart on www.voipsupply.com, the 5th unit will be discounted off your cart automatically.

Keep this in mind if you were planning on just buying 4 of something. Below is the complete list of items we are offering 5 for the price of 4 on! Hurry, this promotion expires July 31st!
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VoIP Supply Grows With New Partner and Old Friend

June 20, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

A rush order for 1,000 units of Cisco phones was a challenge until VoIP Supply turned to D&H Distributing. Quick turnaround was only the first major hurdle.

The customer’s VoIP system had to hit the ground running with preloaded MAC addresses and serial numbers from all VoIP phones ordered.

D&H delivered on that too treating VoIP Supply as if it were a much larger account.

CRN’s Steven Burke details how the fast growing small medium business (SMB) sector can be attributed to sales growth for for both D&H and VoIP Supply while Garrett Smith, CMO VoIP Supply, specifically notes that the Cisco Unified Communications line has performed at 40% year over year growth:

“We have been surprised by how well Cisco solutions have been embraced in the SMB,” he said. “Cisco has done a good job of taking what worked well in the enterprise and then understanding the SMB market and making it work well in the SMB.”

With D&H’s focus on servicing the SMB VAR, VoIP Supply can meet the challenges of emerging markets and grow new business.

Via CRN

VoIP Supply Recognized as Polycom Certified Channel Partner

June 16, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

VoIP Supply is proud to announce being distinguished as a Polycom Certified Channel Partner. Polycom states,

“As Partners working together, we are proud to recognize the commitment to quality and excellence this Polycom Certified Channel Partner provides.”

VoIP Supply is certified by Polycom as an expert in:

VoIP
Video
SoundStation IP
Microsoft Endpoint

“VoIP Supply works hard to educate customers to help them succeed,” said Garrett Smith, Chief Marketing Officer at VoIP Supply. “It’s rewarding to be recognized for our high level of service that parallels Polycom’s VoIP solutions.”

How To Repurpose Webcams into Surveillance Systems

June 9, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

If you’re looking for a simple and cost-effective (read: Free) way to keep an eye on all of your stuff using computers and webcams that are lazily laying around the house doing nothing, then check out the Windows based iSpy security software.

Free and Open Source

iSpy is a free, open source, camera security software that can be used with your own computers, webcams, microphones and even IP cameras. Besides costing you nothing, iSpy software has the same functionality as high-level IP camera software systems:

Event Management: Set up alerts and scheduling and get instant, mobile notification when motion or sound is detected.
Recording and Viewing: Continuous, triggered, or scheduled recordings. View recordings locally or remotely (Searching recorded video via different search variables does not seem to be available).
Web Access: Remote access and control from anywhere in the world via PC or mobile devices.

Many Uses, UFO Watching

There’s an active forum on the site with households, neighborhoods, and businesses finding many uses for iSpy including UFO watching.

Via Free Software Magazine

Surveillance On Demand – Camera Emails Pictures When Asked

June 7, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

There’s a DIY surveillance camera project outlined at Making of the Autonomous Surveillance Camera that aside from acutally working, can email you photos of the room it’s watching when you ask it to.

Here’s how it works:

It uses cellular network for communication. The device checks pre-defined email mailbox once an hour. If a new email is received the camera takes a picture, saves it on a SD-card and emails the image to its owner.

This produces still images on a time delay but, it can provide you a little peace of mind if you need to check on your home. You can build your very own camera with:

A modem
JPEG camera
SD memory card
Micro-controller and integrated circuit

Watch the video to see the Autonomous Surveillance Camera in action —

Via Lifehacker

Internet a Necessity, VoIP Use Increases

by Nathan Miloszewski

It seems like my love for the internet and its importance in my daily life is growing all the time. No question now as a new survey and recent announcement by a major cable company affirm these fuzzy feelings.

The Internet Phone Calls survey by Pew Internet & American Life Project has found that nearly 25% of online American adults have made internet phone calls. This marks a significant increase since the last time this study was done in 2007 when only 8% of users were making online calls.

VoIP use is up, making complete sense that Time Warner Cable is considering dropping it’s “Triple Play” bundled package of cable, internet, and digital phone in favor of a standalone broadband internet plan.

Time Warner Cable’s chief executive Glenn Britt substantiates sentiments that the internet is just too painful to live without: “People are telling us that if they were down to their last dollar, they’d drop broadband last.”

VoIP use is up as internet becomes a household staple and a service provider has noticed. Can we get more attractive broadband deals now?

Hospital Bacteria and the VoIP Solution

June 3, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

Hospital doors adept at keeping flying disease bags at bay are no match for this technological pigeon that comes streaming through day and night.

Peter Ferenczi at Mobiledia is reporting that “phone hygiene” is a real concern:

In a recent study, 40 percent of the phones in the patient group — which included patients’ visitors — carried pathogens, compared to 20 percent of health worker’s phones, according to a paper published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Described as “worrisome” by the study, the types and resistance levels of the bacteria found on these phones should be taken seriously as Ferenczi notes that 100,000 annual deaths in the U.S. can be attributed to hospital acquired infections.

If the germaphobe in you is squirming you should take comfort knowing that in the VoIP world there is a solution to this.

The Polycom KIRK 7020 DECT handset was designed with the healthcare industry in mind. This little life saver has a bacteria-resistant handset with membrane keypad for easy cleaning to help avoid the spread of bacteria.

Most phones, which are more gross than we’d care to believe, don’t take well to traditional cleaning methods making the KIRK 7020’s membrane keypad especially useful.

Of all the things we expect our phones to do these days , who would’ve thought warding off bacteria and curbing infections could be added to the list?

Entrepreneur.com Highlights VoIP Supply’s CEO, Ben Sayers

May 31, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

In the article “How the Recession Saved One Company” Entrepreneur.com highlights our CEO and founder, Ben Sayers. Entrepreneur Mag_Ben_Sayers_05_2011

Part of Entrepreneur.com’s “Small Business Comebacks” series, the article takes a look at the tough choices Sayers had to make heading into the 2008 recession that lead to VoIP Supply’s turnaround and the lessons learned from the experience.

Click here for the full article.

Making the Switch…from VoIP? (Part II)

May 27, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

Note: This is the final segment of a two part article that examines a switch back to traditional phone service from VoIP and other user’s experiences. Part I is here.

Part I was a look at reasons users might take a step back from the growing VoIP usage and return to a traditional, analog phone system.

Admittedly, VoIP isn’t for everyone which is why there are still other options but after having read Renai LeMay’s story, “Why I’m Ditching VoIP for the PSTN,” I wanted to know if this sort of technological backtracking was a trend or an isolated occurrence.

To get a sense of whether or not VoIP service represents a burger grilled to perfection for some or is still undercooked for others (Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone!), I sought the opinions of actual VoIP users.

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