Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) Explained

May 2, 2008 by Garrett Smith

First in a four part series

So it’s not the sexy new Pontiac G8 designed to rival the M3 or the latest version of the Apple iPhone. So what is it? It is one of the hottest features provided at the moment for a variety of IP Surveillance Cameras; Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ).

Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) consists of 3 basic elements:

  1. Pan: 180 to 360 degree rotation scanning every inch of the square footage you are trying to protect around the clock.
  2. Tilt: Up and down surveillance scanning so you can observe and admire every inch of the object in your eye.
  3. Zoom: Up close and personal ability for you to capture every detail of people who deserve it most.

With early surveillance system predecessors being designed to focus on one general area they have often left room for the swiftest elements to elude their tiny eye. Much like a scene out of Oceans 13 where fixed laser systems are dodged for the sake of capital gains by intrusion, the luxuries of the PTZ have been designed to protect your investment from such losses.

It’s no surprise that the largest manufacturers seem to show increased focus on PTZ product line expansion. Axis in particular is growing with more variety and offers both dome and fixed PTZ models. Increased focus on technology further proves the theory that the needs for surveillance are inevitably going to change, and as they do PTZ is poised to be the front runner in loss prevention measures.

VoIP Supply Expands Office Space

Voip Supply continues to grow in Buffalo, NY

VoIP Supply expanded its office to include space for its future plans and continuous company growth. This is the company’s fourth expansion in as many years.

The physical expansion consisted of 9,000 square feet of office space and 1,000 square feet of warehouse space which included: a new 20-person training facility, a new 1,500 square foot provisioning and fulfillment center, and 1,000 square feet of private stock warehousing, shipping and receiving. The expansions will allow VoIP Supply to further develop and expand on its current customer service practices.

“The office expansion was necessary to accommodate new employees and leave space for further growth in years to come,” said Benjamin P. Sayers, CEO of VoIP Supply.

Plans for 2008 include a total addition of 30 employees. These employees will fill the need for more individuals in customer service, marketing, warehouse, purchasing, technical support, sales, software development, systems management and call center departments, and include all levels of employment from entry level to professional.

IPCS Word of the Day: Archive

April 30, 2008 by Garrett Smith

Archive = When recording and storing video surveillance footage, the term “archive” typically refers to the number of hourse, days, weeks or month’s worth of video footage a user would like to save to a library. Archive requirements will vary, but typically range from several days to several weeks. The larger the archive timeline, the more storage required.

Gentech Wireless Announces Dual Network Access For GSM Cell Phone Users

GENTECH Board of Directors announce greater control of cell phone bills

GENTECH Wireless Inc. (“GENTECH”) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the dual network approach for consumers allowing cell phone users to carry dual provider phone numbers and access entering into a global strategy.

Subscribers to Gentech Wireless can now travel and receive dual coverage regarding cell service and control the amount of their cell bills while abroad or at work /home. The offer allows consumers to purchase access to the network with no airtime charges eliminating the need to watch the clock, with plans starting at a low monthly rate of $19.95, with unlimited incoming and outgoing calls; making cell service affordable to a wider audience.

Gentech Wireless has embraced the IP world and the power it can offer to consumers by leveraging new technology and creating a low cost network for consumers to benefit from. Their approach to environmental concerns is to educate consumers on green technology to reduce power consumption and duplication of network functionality by adopting a true wireless network from end to end. This approach reduces clutter and reduces power consumption while increasing functionality on the overall scheme of things.

GENTECH WIRELESS Inc. is a diversified communications company whose core business is providing broadband High-Speed Internet, Digital Home Phone, Mobile Phone, telecommunication services (through GENTECH Consumer and Business Solutions) and Wireless direct-to-home services.

If you are in need of further information, VoIP Supply has a great relationship with Gentech. Please feel free to contact me, Justin, directly either through email or telephone, E-mail or Call 716-250-1981.

IPCS Word of the Day: Analog

April 29, 2008 by Garrett Smith

Hi all you IPCS fanatics! In order to further help you when considering buying an IP camera, we are going to have some educational blogs on this site. There are many terms that buyers should know in order to learn the basics of IP cameras and surveillance. Therefore, we are going to have an ‘IPCS Word of the Day’ to expand our readers’ and potential customers’ knowledge base. If there are any terms you are confused about, please let us know!

And today’s word of the day: Analog.

Analog = Precursor to digital IP. DVR’s and analog video cameras fall under this classification as they do not use IP as their primary mechanism.

Guest Poster Khyle Keys Says ‘Sit down, have a drink from the TAP’

With the rapid acceptance of VoIP in the marketplace and the inroads VoIP providers are making into businesses and residential markets, VoIP is certainly going mainstream. But it’s not enough.

One of the great benefits of VoIP is that it is feature-rich. With programmable phones and soft phones, new functionality can be added quickly. You simply can’t do that with a standard PBX. All VoIP providers can, to the extent that their resources allow, present those features as value-adds to retain their customers and get more revenue by providing solid value.

However, there’s a new market that is developing that will affect not only VoIP providers, but a huge portion of businesses – small and large. Allow me to introduce you to a relatively new term – Telephony Application Provider (TAP). There are a plethora of companies that allow telephony interaction via API (Application Programming Interface). For all sorts of businesses, they can now voice-enable their existing applications to reach out to their customers in ways that were previously impossible or cost prohibitive. VoIP providers have the ability to form partnerships to use these TAPs to extend their feature set in a very fast, efficient and cost- effective way.

Then there is the company I work for, http://www.dialogtech.com/. I like to think we (and the companies above) are bridging gaps. Our Survos (IfByPhone’s name for our Interactive Voice Response implementation) allow companies to offload calls from their call centers, qualify leads, and much more. Click-to-call technology helps Search Engine Marketer’s bridge the gap by tracking phone calls that are generated from internet ad campaigns (in addition to existing web analytics). Call tracking allows companies to measure online and off-line metrics as part of a single campaign.

The great thing is that all of these companies present a huge opportunity. Implementations can be as easy or as complex as you want them to be. You can create a fully-fledged application that uses your business rules, and runs against your data, dynamically changing the path of the call while the user is on the phone. Or, you can send a simple message. It’s your choice. VoIP providers that capitalize on the opportunity will ultimately be the most successful in differentiating themselves in the marketplace.

The technology behind all these companies is not new. But the market we’re creating is. And the smart people are going to be the ones who can take full advantage of the emerging marketplace.

If you’d like to talk to me, just click here, and I’ll call you back.

Khyle Keys
Channel Manager,
IfByPhone

Speaking Up

April 28, 2008 by Ben Sayers

The executives and managers at VoIP Supply all have and advertise an open door policy to our employees. Remarkably many staff do not take advantage of this opportunity, even though it is encouraged and the outcome is nearly always better than expected.

Regardless of the reason for making the initial visit, the outcome and direction of the conversation generally goes somewhere completely different, with greater-than-expected results. Typical open door uses are when there is an issue or opportunity outside of the authorization level for the individual employee to approve. Certainly an excellent reason to walk in and engage your manager, but managers and directors should seize that opportunity to address that issue and pry into more detail with that specific employee.

Rather than extinguish the fire, dive in and find out more details so you can address it at that time, and prevent it from reoccurring in the future for that employee or customer or others.

With the rapid pace of growth and change within our organization, it is easy to lose touch with the philosophy and overall direction of the company. It is also simple enough to change old habits or intra- department myths and beliefs. It is just as easy to uncover when someone, who has been using their best judgment to address a process or problem in a particular manner, is not using an ideal or practical approach for the best interests of the customer and the company.

With as many rules, processes, and procedures as we and most companies have, it requires interaction with your employees to review the best practices, while working with them to improve their environment and efficiency. This is also done while working towards the common goal of providing the best possible customer experience.

Everyone is busy these days, myself included, but that does not mean that it makes sense to ignore the time needed by my staff, or that my needs are more important than theirs. Taking time to hear staff concerns and to ask questions about their day, their needs, and their wish lists always opens the door to improving the customer experience, company efficiency and workplace attitude.

In that respect, I highly encourage my staff to take time from their day as often as possible and come to see me, talk about something, and dig into ways to improve. I also encourage my management staff to adopt the same attitude when it comes to what many could consider an interruption to their day or a staff member not doing what they should be.

Speak up.

National Real Estate Trust Purchases VoIP Phone System

April 25, 2008 by Garrett Smith

VoIP Supply has supplied a 200+ user SwitchVox phone system to Glimcher Realty Trust.

Glimcher Realty Trust, one of the nation’s premier real estate investment trusts. The system, which also features Polycom IP phones, is set to be deployed this month.

Glimcher Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust, is a recognized leader in the ownership, management, acquisition and development of regional and super-regional malls. Glimcher currently owns or manages 28 properties in 14 states. Of the 28 properties, 24 are enclosed regional or super-regional malls, many of which are located in the country’s top-growing metropolitan statistical areas.

Siraj Haji, Director of Information Systems at Glimcher, said that their recent move to an innovative new office space was an opportunity to implement the new technology, and that with the new SwitchVox phones system, “they have set the foundation to integrate our data and communication network across all our properties.”

Mr. Haji worked closely with a team of VoIP Supply product specialists to identify Glimcher’s communication needs. After conducting a thorough needs assessment, VoIP Supply discussed numerous possible solutions, and based on analysis of the potential solutions, then proposed a solution which fit Glimcher’s current needs and allowed for future growth.

“We realized a 25 percent savings by purchasing our phone system through VoIP Supply, said Haji. “The VoIP Supply sales team was very helpful and their pre-sales support team was able to answer all our questions. We are very pleased with the service and support we received from VoIP Supply.”

Benjamin P. Sayers, President and CEO of VoIP Supply, is happy about the sale and said, “We are pleased to be working with Glimcher, a national real estate leader, and expand our services to another viable sector of the business community.”

For more information about the phone systems offered through VoIP Supply, please visit take a look at our real estate phone systems.

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