Ireland’s Premier Telecoms Distributor Benefits from Expanded Product Portfolio

Dublin, November 22nd 2007: Wood Communications, Ireland’s leading distributor of fibre optic, structured cabling and associated telecommunications technologies, announced today a proactive distribution partnership with MOBOTIX, global leaders in IP Technology.  The agreement enables Wood Communications to distribute the full range of MOBOTIX IP hiRes surveillance cameras into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

There is no denying that the increasing threat to global security, constant desire for personal protection and acceptance of new technologies is offering the security surveillance equipment market limitless opportunities for the future. The fear of terrorism after 9 / 11 attacks in the U.S and the rising crime rates around the globe have forced governments to put public safety and security as top priority and invest in it substantially. 

Accordingly the advent of new technologies such as IP video and video analytics, RFID, Biometrics and the compatibility of IT and security has given thrust to the growth of the global security market. With the shifting of global CCTV market from Analogue to Digital, new avenues for growth have opened in the shape of up gradation of existing systems, emerging countries seeking sophisticated technologies.

Answering the need of Irish business establishments to protect their premises, products and employees Wood Communications researched the market extensively for a strategic partner.  MOBOTIX was identified as a market leader, as the MOBOTIX IP-camera is the first and only weatherproof network camera to date with an integrated recorder function, video management system, video sensors and audio. The free scalability of the number of cameras, storage capacity and data connections (ISDN, DSL, Ethernet, WLAN, GSM, copper, fibre optics) ensures system flexibility, low cost of system expansion and safe investment protection. In addition, the MOBOTIX IP cameras feature internal as well as external recording. Any standard file server (Linux, Windows) can be used for external storage. The camera manages the entire database without requiring any additional software. All the recording, FTP and e-mail functions can be either time or event-controlled.

Speaking on the new distributor partnership Keith Mahony, MD Wood Communications, commented “We are very excited about this new distribution partnership.  The two companies bring something unique to the table – technology and distribution channels.  MOBOTIX fits in with our ongoing plans to develop our CCTV range of products. These products will be of great interest to IT professionals / security companies and cabling contractors who are looking to add CCTV applications into their installations. The convergence of IP devices on today’s modern networks with data transmission, telephony and IP surveillance are more frequently over lapping each other now”.

Continuing Mahony stated “We see MOBOTIX as a unique product set, offering multiple functions such as Video, Audio and IP Telephony from one camera. Most of all the quality of the images played a huge influence in our decision. To digitise and store the images of many cameras, the image format is typically reduced to CIF 352 x 288 TV lines with only 0.1Megapixel. This is the reason why today a cell phone with an integrated mega pixel camera takes 30 times more detail than most of the security cameras in the world.  It is interesting to note that the French Government brought out a new video law in October 2006 which requires a minimum of 576 TV lines and 12 Frames per second for Recording, the question is why? Obviously the quality of images had not been sufficient in making positive ID of suspects. This is where MOBOTIX steps up to the mark and differentiates themselves from the traditional methods of CCTV”.

Wood Communications is confident and excited about this new technology in the Irish Market.  The company sees it as a new challenge in changing the mind set of existing customers but knows that it is only a matter of time before it really starts to take off. Wood Communications will be conducting a number of Product Seminars, over the coming months, which will enable companies to see the overall benefits of MOBOTIX IP hiRes surveillance cameras in operation.

Commenting on the new distribution alliance Mike Lewis, UK & Ireland Business Development Manager, stated “This distribution partnership between MOBOTIX and Wood Communications is a natural fit, given our technology and Wood Communication’s distribution channels.  There is no denying that the demand for IPCCTV & video is emerging in Ireland and we, at MOBOTIX, want to meet this growing requirement through our partnership with Wood Communications.  Our company brings to the Irish market extensive technical qualities and features, ensuring availability of sophisticated IP technology to a wide market base.   We look forward to building on this winning combination and partnership with Wood Communications”.