New VidSys Interoperability Partner (VIP) Program Enables Seamlessly Integrated Technology Environments for Security and Surveillance Operations Centers.

VIP Program lets Customers have their Choice of Technology Vendors; Barco and Steelbox First Partners to Join

ALEXANDRIA, Va. and MARLBOROUGH, Mass. -- VidSys, the leading operations center software company for security, safety, military and transportation organizations, today launched its VidSys Interoperability Partner (VIP) program. The VIP program lets customers select products from any vendor within the program, and seamlessly integrate all of the technologies through the open architecture of the VidSys VidShield[TM] operations center management software platform.

Organizations generally have specific vendor preferences when it comes to the cameras, Network Video Recorders (NVRs), CODECS and other hardware and software technologies they choose for their physical security and video surveillance network. The VIP Program provides a common management platform and interface for partner products, enabling customers to easily manage their physical security network, regardless of the vendor they choose.

"Joining the VIP program gives our partners' products an even greater value proposition," said Rick Clarkson, director of product management at VidSys. "By providing customers truly integrated physical security and video surveillance networks, they can focus all of their resources on awareness, assessment and action instead of worrying about managing the underlying infrastructure and potential technology conflicts."

Opening The Door To The Three A's

Command centers need to stay laser-focused on the three A's oC awareness, assessment and action. However, most operations center management platforms are closed systems that require an end-to-end physical security network with products from just one technology vendor, making it a challenge to integrate newer, more innovative data sources such as digital cameras and DVRs. In addition, relying on a single vendor for all products eliminates the benefits enabled by a best-of-breed approach.

Now, VidSys lets operations centers select technology from any vendor in the VIP program, and integrates it all within its VidShield operations center management platform.

First VIPs oC Barco & Steelbox Networks 

Belgium-based Barco is a leading developer of display and visualization solutions. VidSys is working with the Barco software development kits (SDKs) to control Barco video walls that are prevalent in large command centers. This control includes re-layout, re-population (source switching), event triggers and notification highlights on specific events of specific views or screens (e.g. size, border color changes, text additions, etc.).

"Many of our customers are seeking an integrated solution for the total workflow order to streamline their processes. This is important to them because with it, our customers will be able to deploy the best technologies available for the individual functions which are usually available from different manufacturers but still manage them as one seamless integrated system as if it was delivered from one supplier," said Hans Dekeyser, national sales manager, Barco. "To this end, they have specifically asked for interoperability between vendors to ensure that such a solution is possible and achievable without significant third party integration costs. Partnerships such as these will deliver just that and we look forward to the significant benefits that this collaboration with VidSys will bring to our customers in the security industry."

Steelbox Networks is an Atlanta-based developer of video switching software and equipment, including network video recording (NVRs) and real-time retrieval systems. Using VidShield, customers have complete control of NVR functionality plus other related equipment in an operations center.

"Working with partners like VidSys and Barco allows customers to seamlessly integrate best-of-breed workflow," said Chip Howes, CEO, Steelbox Networks. "Through VidShield's ability to control Steelbox Networks' Digital Matrix Storage Switch (DMSS), our customers can now integrate our solution with their other security and surveillance technology to get true situational awareness in mission critical surveillance environments."

About VidSys

For security, safety, military and transportation organizations, VidSys is the only operations center software company that provides truly collaborative situational awareness. Through its open, hybrid architecture that uses data from any video source, as well as any detection, monitoring or control system, the VidSys platform lets public safety and security personnel focus exclusively on awareness, assessment and action. Founded in 2005, the company's solutions are deployed in transportation, federal government, enterprise and state and local government organizations, including some of the largest state and city command and control centers in the U.S. Privately funded by IDG Ventures Boston, the company has offices in Marlborough, Mass. and Alexandria, Va.

About Barco

Barco, a global technology company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, designs and develops visualization products for a variety of professional markets. Barco has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. For fiscal year 2005, Barco posted net sales of euro 712.0 million. Barco's ordinary shares are listed on the Brussels/Euronext stock exchange. Barco is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company. Share information may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbol BAR BB and on Reuters under BARBt.BR.

About SteelBox Networks

SteelBox Networks, Inc., is a three-year old software developer and manufacturer of video-over-IP switching equipment. Initial strong demand for this application has been for large-scale surveillance networks in terminals and mass transit venues. SteelBox has installations in the US, Europe and Asia where systems have been deployed to monitor highway and subway systems, and to help guard high security areas at seaports.

SteelBox Networks was founded in 2003 by executive and engineering veterans of Cisco Systems, Scientific Atlanta and Nortel Networks. The company is committed to developing scalable, open architecture solutions for live and recorded streaming media over IP networks. For more information, go to http://www.steelbox.com.