Hikvision Attacks IPVM

Published Mar 20, 2017 12:14 PM
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Hikvision has attacked IPVM repeatedly over the last month, both in the international press and in its dealer communications.

Attacks Listed

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On March 9th, Hikvision International VP Keen Yao alleged:

an American blogger site (John Honovich, IPVM.com, publisher’s note), whose sole business goal appears to be instilling fear, uncertainty and doubt about Hikvision because it is a Chinese company.

[link no longer available]

A week later, on March 16th, Hikvision Director of Sales Vince Lupe [link no longer available] emailed US dealers accusing:

There are some blogging sites out there trying to spread false accusations and misrepresent facts. This is how they make money. These nefarious efforts exist to pursue certain political, personal and financial agendas. Hikvision's goal is to provide you, our most valued partners, with the actual facts.

Lupe concluded by emphasizing to US dealers:

My team and I are available to address any concerns, and to lend accuracy to any misperceptions created by the blogger site.

[link no longer available]This started on February 17th, with Hikvision NA President Jeffrey He [link no longer available] decrying:

Over the past two years, Hikvision has received much praise and some shrill criticism from online bloggers. Facts are what matter. The truth will prevail. The online blogging site must be sensing its demise because its National Enquirer-style lies and misrepresentations get more ridiculous every day.

Update

May 2017: Hikvision is continuing their campaign with Putting Blogger Anti-Hikvision Rhetoric in Perspective, with statements including:

fake news, distorted information and pretend-to-be-media folks

site that has always trafficked in nefarious insults and innuendo

In post after petulant post, the site’s scribe and “undisclosed” readers work themselves up into a frenzy about outlandish manufacturer conspiracies

Poll / Vote

Hikvision China Government Ownership

The underlying driver of Hikvision's anger against IPVM is our reporting of Hikvision's Chinese government ownership. To recap:

However, Hikvision has never attempted to rebut any of our specific reporting on their Chinese government ownership.

Hikvision Buying the Media

Hikvision has effectively bought off the industry media except for IPVM, which is the industry's only advertisement / sponsor free publication. Below is a photo of one of Hikvision's many paid press trips with numerous 'editors':

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In addition to wining and dining the press, Hikvision easily spends hundreds of thousands on advertising and sponsoring these various media sources.

If IPVM was so money motivated, as Hikvision alleges, we would make far more taking it from the Chinese government video surveillance company.

Hikvision Problems

We see 2 fundamental problems for Hikvision, coming from their Chinese government ownership:

  • Unsustainable business model: The combination of price slashing with heavy local sales and marketing expenditures will eventually break down. It exists, for now, due to the Chinese government's growing debt bubble but is unsustainable.
  • Security risks: Chinese government owned network products are inherently insecure for use at US government facilities, critical infrastructure and for many other Western governments and enterprises.

Positives of Hikvision

However, Hikvision clearly has positives and we aim to cover accurately and completely. For example, our recent positive test results of their people counting analytics. Here are some more fundamental positives:

  • Strong hardware reliability: Hikvision has very low hardware failure rates, rivaling anyone in the industry.
  • Great pricing / discounts: Hikvision's everyday pricing is quite low and their aggressive discounts are second to none. Their dealers love it and they should.
  • Strong local support: Hikvision's support - technical, sales, marketing, etc. to dealers is very strong. Smaller dealers routinely say that it is the best they have ever received.
  • Talented staff: Hikvision's USA group (who we interact with the most) has many talented, intelligent, hard-working good people.

Coverage Continues

Hikvision is not the first company to object to IPVM. Recall American manufacturer Arecont threatening to sue us and Canadian manufacturer Avigilon declared a 'pissing contest'. We will continue to cover companies independently and critically.

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