I guess they won't need any state licensing for this new product either.
Flock Expands Into General Surveillance
Published May 18, 2023 15:46 PM
Flock is building upon its market-disrupting quick deploy LPR cameras (tested), and hundreds of millions in funding, now taking on general surveillance companies ranging from Axis to Verkada.
In this report, IPVM examines the new product announcements and analyzes the positioning and limitations of each, based on feedback direct from Flock and our assessment of the competitive market.
Flock *** **********, ** ****** *********
******* ** ****, ***** ********* ******** **** **** a *****-****** *****-******* ****** *** (**** ******), *******, ***** ******* ******** ************ ** ***** ************ ~$*** million ** *** ***** * ***** as * *******.
*****'* ***** **** ******* ** *** was*** ***** ********* ******, *****, ** ******* ****, ***** ***** touted "**** ****** **** **** *********** Flock ****** ******* ***** ******, ****** can ** **** * ******* ***** to * ******* ******* ***** - instantly."
***** ** *** ********* ******* **** the ******* ************ ****** ******.*** *** ******* ************* *******.
New "******" ******* ************ *******
** ******* **** *** ***** ****** theme, ***** ********* ***"******" *******, * *** *** ****** camera, ***** ** *** ***** ***, but *** ******* ************ *** ******* being ********** **** *** ****** *** cameras, ** ******* ******** ******* *****.
***** ********** **** ****** ****** ********* are *** ******** **** ******* *** cellular ******** ***, ******* ** *** Falcon ***, ****** *********** ** *****'* own *******.
***** *** ******* ***** ************** *** competitively *******, ***** **** **** **** its ******** ** * ******* ******* solution ****** ***:
*** ********** *** **** ******* *** two ***** ************ ** *****’* ***** service *** ********. **** ** ***** are *** ***** ** *** ******* services *****, ***** ** ****** *** hardware ************, ***********, ********/******** ********, **** storage, *** ********** ***** *** ** agency.
Pricing *** *********
***** *** *** ******** **** ******* for *** *** ********.
NDAA / *** **********
***** **** **** **** *** ******* are **** *** *** *********. *** cameras ********** ****** ** ** ***-***** Uniview *******, *** ***** ******** ** confirm ** **** **** **** *** from *******.
*******, ******* ******* *** ********* ***** performing ** **** *****, **** ***** value ***** * *** *****, * fraction ** *** **** ** **** competitive ******. ******* ** ********* ********** for *********** ******* *** ************ ** other ***-**** ***** **** ** ***** or *********.
***** ******* ** ***** ** *** PRC *****, *** ********** ** ******** to ***** *** ****** ** ************, so ** ** ******** **** ***** are ******* **** ** ***-********* ********* (e.g. *******, ******) ** **** ** someone ****.
"Wing" *** ***** ****** ***** *******
****, ***** ********* ***"****" *******', ** **-******* ******** ****** **** they **** *** ******* *** ***** cameras/NVRs ** *** ***** ***** ********.
***** **** **** *** **** ** Wing ******** *** ** "***** ********* engagement", ** *********** ******* ******* (*.*. gas ********, *******, ***) **** *** Flock ********* **** ** ********* ** Flock's ****** ********** ******** ****. **** said **** **** ** ******** ***** team ** ***** **** ** ********* these ******* ******* ******* * "****** registry" *** *** *******.
**** ** ******* ** ******** ******* by***************, ****** ***** *** **** ************ aggressive *** ********** ** ********* ***** ****** ********** *** ***** as ***** **********.
Flock ***
***** ************ *** *** ***** ***, offering * ****** ********** **** ** its ****** ***, ***** ***** *******, Wing-connected *** ***** *******, *** *** Condor *******:
***** ******** * ***** *** **** sensor *** *** *********** ** *** unique ** ****, ** ** * significant **** ** * *****-******* ********** view, ******** ** * ****** ** LPR *****-****** *********, ******** ** *** works ********. **** *** *** ****** Flock ***.
Flock ** *********** *********
***** **** *********** ***"***** ** ****** ********"******** ******** ******* ** **** *** historically **** ********* ** * **** (e.g. "*********** ***** *** *****-***** **** across *****, ***, *** *****").
***** **** *** *******-******* ********* ******** tracking ******** ******* *** ***** ****** multiple ****** *** ******* ***** *********** live ****** ***** **** ****** ** Wing-integrated *******. **** ************ ***** ********** from ****** *********** *** ****** ** examples.
Competitive *******
***** ***** **** ****** * ***** competitor ** ******* ***** ************ *** it ******* ** *** **** ******* the ******* **** ** ********* ***** offerings.
** *** ******** ****, ***** *** a ****-******* *** ************ ***** ********* surveillance ******** *** ** ****** ** able ** ******** **** ** ***** users ** *** ** ******* ************, which ***** ************* ******** ******* *** account (****** ** ** ***** ** 2x ** ** **** ******* ***** that ***** *** *** **** ******* cameras **** *** ******* ******** ** municipalities).
** *** ******** ****, ***** ***** well-entrenched *********** *** **** ****** ******* and **** ****** ********* ** *** general ****, ********* ***** *** *** expanding **** *****'* *** **** ******** (see*******'* ***** ****** **************'* ***** ****** *** ********).
**** ***** ** ******* ** ***** significant ********* ** ******* ************ ******* development? **** ** **** **, *** can **** **** * *********** **** in **** *** **** ****** ******?
***** *** ******* *** *** ********* that *** ***** *********** ****, ** expect **** ** ****** * ***** contested ****** **** *** **** ******.
Comments (18)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
May 18, 2023JH
John Honovich
May 18, 2023Can you elaborate on why you believe they need licensing here? I understand there are a few states wher video surveillance cloud providers might be required but this is generally more for alarm monitoring companies which Flock is still not. Also almost all of Flock's customers are government agencies not commercial or residential. That noted, I am not an expert in this aspect so be curious to hear more from others.
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
May 18, 2023I was referring to installation of their LPR and this new offering of video cameras. I would suggest that they were mostly law enforcement, but believe the fastest growing portion of their business is commercial or certainly is in our city. The HOA and commercial installations far outweigh the number of units owned by local law enforcement agencies (LEA). LEA did a good job of selling them in many municipalities as IPVM has reported. Feedback we are receiving is that LEA's are starting to realize the actual number of tags captured versus the total number of vehicles that pass the camera, the lack of customer support for hardware issues, and the number of units that aren't working 24/7/365 is starting to become a concern. However, LEA's will still be delighted for non-LEA customers to purchase them and provide access to LEA.
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
May 22, 2023
SD
Shannon Davis
May 23, 2023
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
May 23, 2023No joke! This is 100% true.
No uniform, no marked company vehicle, installed on cheap poles that have sway and vibration.
U
Undisclosed #3
May 18, 2023a few states wher video surveillance cloud providers might be required but this is generally more for alarm monitoring companies which Flock is still not.
in my state and many others, the state alarm board controls who can install surveillance as well.
back in my trunk slamming days, I was threatened with a 10K fine when the former state alarm board director saw one of my fliers and called me. even when I presented the same logic that you did above, he said it didn't matter. they win.
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
May 19, 2023In our area Flock uses unlicensed contractors to install. The state requires an alarm license to install any and all parts of video surveillance and LPR.
Additionally, in cities and on projects that require alarm installers be paid prevailing wage and supplemental (~$38-$45/hr. + ~$22-$28/hr.), Flock hires landscaping contractors to skirt around the low voltage/electrical prevailing wage rates and pays them only $18-$22/hr.
Bad business practice to say the least. Any company that adheres to the licensing laws, prevailing wage rates, or union contractor requirements cannot compete.
U
Undisclosed #3
May 19, 2023Any company that adheres to the licensing laws, prevailing wage rates, or union contractor requirements cannot compete.
the obvious answer to this dilemma is enforcement.
the reality is that - apparently - states do not enforce their own laws when it comes to who can install surveillance systems in their own states.
back in the day when ONVIF had no real enforcement arm and every fly-by-night chinese manufacturer claimed ONVIF conformance, I posted a picture of a dummy camera box with an ONVIF Conformant sticker, poking fun at their non-enforcement (Chris Dearing woulda posted a link to it within a few minutes of this post if he was still with us).
if you don't enforce laws, why would those who seek to profit from that non-enforcement stop violating these laws when they are actually profiting by continuing to do so?
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
May 19, 2023There should be a sad face reaction. I would use it in response to your comment. You hit the nail on the head.
JH
John Honovich
May 19, 2023Thanks for the feedback. We will ask Flock for a response.
Related, Flock has its own installers and we covered this - Flock Safety In-House Installers are "The Backbone of the Company"
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
May 19, 2023Ask to see copies of their prevailing wage reports for NYS, NJ, and PA for the past year along with their Alarm Licensing.
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
May 18, 2023Yup, they would need a license to install this in some states.
Sean Nelson
May 18, 2023TAA-compliant countries (e.g. Vietnam, Taiwan) or made by someone else.
Is Vietnam TAA compliant? I didnt think it was.
JH
John Honovich
May 18, 2023
Chris Ritter
May 19, 2023Companies like Flock and Fusus is what turned my previous employer into a "follower" and "catcher-upper" instead of the leaders of innovation that they once were and several others like them with outdated architecture and visons! And all of them want the direct end-user model and no integrator channel.
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
May 19, 2023To clarify, are you PRO integrator channel sales or PRO direct end-user sales?
Chris Ritter
May 22, 2023PRO Integrator! Pro Channel Partner!! NO direct end-user sales! If your company was built on one of the strongest sales partner channels in the world, DO NOT go to direct end-user sales! I will not support any company with direct end-user sales and no partner channel! Strength in partners! I hope that clears it up :-)