Rhombus Makes Secret Deals Not To Take Select Customers Hostage

By John Honovich, Published Sep 22, 2021, 08:45am EDT

Rhombus Systems, one of 3 "Hostage as a Service" providers, has been making secret deals with select customers to allow them an open option if they want to leave / reuse the cameras they bought with other systems.

IPVM Image

When we first questioned Rhombus about this practice, they claimed that "something [was] getting missed here in translation", however, later they admitted doing this and that they now "anticipate making this available for all customers in the near future".

Inside this note, we examine the hostage taking process, Rhombus's negotiating with certain customers not to be locked in, and what customers should do when dealing with Rhombus, Meraki and Verkada.

Benefits ** ******* ******

*** ******** ** ******* customers ** ** *****. If **** **** ** buy *** *** ******* plus *** ** ****** the ******** **** *** install ****, ********* **** be **** **** ****** to *****. *** ***** these ********* ******* ** ongoing ************ ** ****, this ********** **** ******* recurring *******.***** *** ***** *** an ******** ** *** model.

End **** ****** *********

** ***-**** ****** * concern **** ******* ***** being ******-** ** ******* and *** ***** **** to ******** ***** *** cameras **** **** ********* if **** ******* ****** Rhombus * ************.

*************, ******* ***** **** was ******* ** *********, even ** ******* ***** that ***** ***** *** an **** ***** ********* option.

Rhombus ********

** ***** *******:

** *** **** ********* us ** ***** ******* a ******* *********** **** that ******* *** **** up ***** ******* *** not **** ********* **.

** **** *********** ******** or *** ******* ******* its ******** ** ****** openness?

******* *********:

** ******** ****** ** our **** *** *’* encourage **** ***-**** ** clarify **** *** ***** rep ** * ******’* want **** ** **** the ***** ***********. ******* the **** *******, *’* guessing *****’* ********* ******* missed **** ** ***********, but *’* ***** ** address **** ********** ** something ** ******* ********** communicated.

**** *** * ********** response ** ** ******* the ******* ***** **** had **** ***** ***** in ***** ************* **** the *** ****.

** ******** ** **** Rhombus:

*** *** ********* ********** that "** ******** ****** on *** ****", *** we ********* ******* **** nothing '********' *** *******.

*******, ********************** **** **** ****** customers **** ***** **** as * ******* ** is *********** ***** ** allow **** ** **** an **** ****** *** streaming *****? ***, ** so, *** *** ***** this ** *** *********?

******* **** ************ *** tactic ** ****:

***, **** **** *** customers ** **** **** agreements ** **** *** cameras ******** ** ***** systems ** **** **** it. ** **** ********** making **** ********* *** all ********* ** *** near ******. **** *****

******* ******** ** ******* why **** ********* **** provided ** **** ****** while ****** **** ***.

Beneficial ****** *** ******

***** **** ** * deal ** **** ***** is ********** *** *******. If * ***** ** not *** ****** ** does *** ******** ****** enough, *** ******* **** an **** ******? *********** speaking, ** ** ****** to **** **** ****** in.

Trivial ** *** **** ******

******* ** * ******* Valley **** ******* **** offers ****** ***********, ***, an ************* ******, ***., so ** ***** ** trivially **** *** ******* to ******* ** **** video ********* ******.

End ***** ****** ****

** *** **********, *** users *** ***** **** at ***********, ********** ******** to *********** ***** ****** profession ** ******* ****** to *** ***.

**** **** *** ****, buyers ****** ***** ** and ****** **** *** systems, ******* ** ** Meraki, *******, ** ******* includes ** **** ******. The ***** *** ***** need ** *** **** option *** **** ***'* company * ***** *** of ***** ***** **** the ****. ***, ***** companies, ** ******* *****, can ****** ** ** if **** *** ****** to ** **.

** ** **** ******* formally *** *********** ****** an **** ******, ** will ** * *** report ************ **** *** update ******** ******* ** Hostage ** * *******.

Comments (21)

Undisclosed End User #1

09/22/21 01:18pm

********* **** ***** **** do **** **** *** "big ****" **** ********** orgs. ********* **** **** easily ***** *** **** in ***** *** ***** be ******** ** **** sign **. ***** ****** the ******* ******* ********* behind ** ******** *** fall ******.

** **** ** **** this * ******** ****** and ***'* ****** ***** for **, * ***** Rhombus ***** ***** ******* the *** ** ***** VMS. (** ******** ***** image ****** ** ***** up **** ****)

** **** ** ******** with *** ******* ***** then. ***** *****!

Agree: 3
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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #1 | 09/22/21 01:32pm

****, *** ******* ****** open ****** / **-***** storage / ***** ************, e.g.*** ******* ******

Agree: 3
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to John Honovich | 09/22/21 04:32pm

**’* ****** **** **** this ****.

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Duane Wilde

Industrial Technical Services, Inc.
In reply to John Honovich | 09/22/21 04:45pm

*** **** ** ** worth, ** ******** ******** 285 *** ***** ******* at * ***** ****** district. *** ******* *** replacing ******** * *** based ****** ** **** as ***** ** ******** installed ******* *******. *** deciding ******* ** ******* that ******* *** *** quality (** **** ***** of) ** *** ******** installation *** *** *** Rhombus ***** *** ***** into ***** *******. ****** the ************, *** **** Ava ***** ** *** was *** ****** **** had ******* ******** *** that *** ********* ** hours ***** ********* ****. I *** ******* ***** scalability *** *** ******* end **** ********** **** the ******** ** ******* involved. ** *** *** experience *** **** **********, the *** **** ***** it *** ** *** happy ** ***** *** as * **** ******* to *** ****.

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Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 09/22/21 04:17pm

IPVM Image

Agree
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

09/23/21 01:22pm

* ***** ***** ** skeptical ** * ********, unless **** ****** ** available *** *** *** users. ** *'* * big ******** *** *** a *** ** ******* cameras, ********** * **** to *** ***** *******. I **** * ******* that ***** ***** **** to ** * *** of ******* ***** *** me ** **** ** move ** ********* **** (let's **** **** ** Milestone). *** ****** ** it **** ** ******* couldn't *** ******** ******* that * ****, **** I'm ****** **** * monthly ***, **** **** will **** ** **** additional *********** **** ** I ***'* **** ** pay *** ***?

* *** ******* **** they ***** ***** ** such ** ***********, *** I ***** ** ********* that ** ******'* **** out ** **** ** practice.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 | 09/23/21 01:28pm

* ***** ** ********* that ** ******'* **** out ** **** ** practice.

**** **** ** *******, Rhombus **** *** **** an **** ***** ******* developed (***** ***** ** simple ** ** *** it's *** *********) ** you *** ***** ******* that **** ** ******* it *** *** **** developed ** *********** **** make **.

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Undisclosed #6

In reply to John Honovich | 09/28/21 09:46am

**** *** ***** ** be ** ***** ******* with ****.

* ***** ****** - prior ** * **** being ****** - *** ability ** **** **** how **** **** ************ this "****" *******. ** they ****'* **** ** available ** ****? ** deal.

Agree: 1
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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 09/28/21 11:46am

***, *** ******* ** that, **** ** ***** from******* ********** **** ******* ****:

****** **** **** *** 'not * ****** ******' for *********, ******* **** RTSP *** ***** ********** be ******* ******* * subscription *** **** *** would *** ** **** to **** ****** ************* changes ******* ***.

*** ******** ***'* **** to ****** ************** ***** but ** *** **** need ** ********* *** camera, *** ***** ** blocked.

****, *** ******** ** support, **** ********, ****, Dahua, *********, ***., *** can ***** *** ******* years ***** *** ****** a ******, **** ***** HaaS ********* ** ** if *** *** *** paying ***** ************ *******?

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to John Honovich | 09/28/21 12:20pm

****'* * **** ***** about ******* *** *** camera's ********. * ****'* even ***** ***** **** one. ** **** ** follow ******* **** ***** promise ** **** ** the ******, *** **** will **** ******* *******? Also, *** **** *** update *** ******** ******* access ** ***** ******? I ***** ***** *** a *** ** ********* here.

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Craig Bruce

09/23/21 01:45pm

**** ***** ***** ** to **. "*********" **** they ***'* *** ****** in *** ** **** to *** ***, ** a **** *** **** actually ***** **** **. This ** ** *********** sales ****** *** **** play ** *** ***-**** for ******* **** ** agree ** **.

**** * **** ******** perspective, *** **** ****** betting **** *** ****** will *** **** ** leave? ****'* * ****** move. ****** **** ***** platform, ** **** ********* by *** **** ** worked.

* ***** **** **** end ** ***** ** official ****** ******* ******* parameters *** ****** **** meet, **** ** ***** three ***** *** *** switch ** ***** ****** X ****** ** *******.

****** *** ** *****'* make ****** ***** *** investors ** ******** ** back * ******* **** has ** **** ********* revenue **** ******** *******, much **** *** ************ of ****** *** *******.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Craig Bruce | 09/23/21 01:48pm

****** *** ** *****'* make ****** ***** *** investors ** ******** ** back * ******* **** has ** **** ********* revenue **** ******** *******, much **** *** ************ of ****** *** *******.

*****, * **** *** to *** **** ****** you **** ****.

....

****, **** ********* **** video ************ ******** *** remain *******, **** **********, without ******* ** ********* and ********* ******* *************. Does **** **** ***** to ***?

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Craig Bruce

In reply to John Honovich | 09/23/21 01:53pm

****, *'** ** ******. This ******* ******* ** one ***** **** *** is *** ********** ******** to * ********* ******** model, ***** ******* ********* are ***** ** **** questions.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to Craig Bruce | 09/23/21 01:55pm

*** ******** ** - are **** ****** ********* - ** **** ******* about *********?

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Craig Bruce | 09/23/21 01:57pm

***, ***** ***** *********. The ******** *** ********* / *** ***** ** how **** ***** *** they ****** *** ** being ****** ** ** how **** **** ***** do **** **** ** locking ** *********.

*** ******* ******** ******** strikes ** ** **** Rhombus ** ***** ***** now. **** ** ******** by *******. ** * customer ** *** ****** and ********** **** ****** on ****-**, *********** ***** to *** **** **** in.

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

09/23/21 05:20pm

**** **** ******, **’* all ***** *********** *** we *** **** ********* perspectives. *** ****** **** people **** **** ** these ********* ** ********** to * "****** ******". But ** *** **** at *** ***** *** are ************ ******** **** responsible *** *** ********** of ***** *******, *** Technology ********* *** *** more ******** **** *** software-as-a-service *****. *** ******* assumes **** *** ******* should ** ****** ** as **** **** ** sperate ******** ** *** software ******* ** *** notion **** *** ******* should **** ******* ** the **** ********* *********. In * ***, *** market *** **** **** circle. **-**** ******* **** to ** ****** ****** systems ***** ***** ****** manufacturers ******* ****'* **** on **** *** ******. The ****** ** ******** compression *****’* *** *** movement **** **** ******** based ** ******** *****, equipment ******** ********* ****** that ** *** ********** not **** ******* ** those *** ********* ******** systems ** ******* ***** systems.

*** *** ********* **** the ******** **** ***** is *********** ** ****** systems **** *** ***** protocols *** ** ********** security-as-a-service ** * *****, is ********* ***** ******* and, ** ** *******, a ******** ****** ** service **** ** ******** to **** ***-*****. ********** in * ******** ***** where **** *** ********* are ********* **** *** IT ********* *** ***** want * ****** **** is ***** ** ****, and **** *** *********** set *** ******. * good ********** ***** ** the ******** ******* *****. Cisco, **, ******** ***. all **** *****-***** *********** with ***** ****** ******. Customers ********* *** ** hundreds ** **** ********* of ****** ****** **** no *********** ** **** turning *** *** ***** service *** ****** *** access ****** **** ****** to * ********* ************ yet ******* **** ** not ********** * ******* situation ** *** ** world. **** ** ***** organizations *** ****** ***** systems ** * *** x *** ********** ********** that *********** ** *** perceived **** ** *** system *** *** ******** to ****** ****** *** projected **** **** ** up *** ***** ******* with *** **** *****.

** ** ********** **** are ***** ***** *** diligence *** ******* *** systems ****** ******** *** if **** ****'*, **** the **** ********* ** an **** ****** ** the ******* ** **** the **** ** *** software *** ******** *** switch ******* ***** ** only * *** ** their *** **** ** due ********* ** *** first *****. ***** ** always *** **** **** comes **** *** ******* going ***** *** ******* end-users ** *** ****, but ***** ***** *** inherent ** *** ******* to ******* ******* *** from **** * **** seen, ***** ************* *** working ** ********* ** these ******** *** ***** camera ******* ******* *** for ** ***** *** manufacturer, ******** ***** ** capture *** **** ******.

** *** ******** ********** in **** *******, * don’t **** *** ** issue **** ******* ******** ‘unlocked’ ******* ** **** and *** ** ******. All ****** ***** *** up **** ******* ***********, so * *** **** as ** *********. **’* their *********** *** **** of *** *********** ********* as ** ** *** when **** ****** ** do ** *** * don’t *** ******** ********** wrong **** ** *** more **** ******* ************ offering *** ******** *** price *** ******* ******** a ****** ***** ** win * ****. *=** the ***** ** **** article *** ******** ** reflect **** ******** ** would ** ***** ***** secret **** ** **** the **** ******* ** a ***** **** ** some ********* *** *** others. ***** ********* **** from *** ******** *** I ***** **** ** talk ** *** ********** that ***** ****** ******* other ********* ***** *** terms ** *** ***** past *****.

* ***** *** ********* attack ** **** ***** as **** **** ** hostage ********* ** *** an ********* ****** *** seems **** **** * personal **********. ** ****, if *** ******** ***** the ****** **** **** whole ******** ** ****. And ** **** **** the ****** **** *** system *** ***** ** the ****** *** ** either **** *** ****** will ****** *** **** of **** *****. *** in *** *** ***** where ******* *** ****** remorse *** ***** ** switch, ** *** ******* system *******? ** ** unusable? ********. ** ******** just *****'* *** *** personality ** *** *** user *** **** ***** provide ******** ***** *** customer *** ******* * re-fresh.

Agree: 3
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Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 09/23/21 07:13pm

…*** ********** *** **** thought ** ***** *** universal ******** ******* ** hostage ***** *******.

****’* ******* *** ********** was ***, ********* *** just ************* ** ****** their ***** **** ** all.

***** * *** *****, as ********** *******, ***-***** were **** ********* **** mere ********** *********** *********, and ******* ********* *** interoperability, ***** ********** ********.

*** **** ** *********, the ** *********** ********* of ****************, ** ** to ******** ******* ** minimizing ***-**** *******.

Agree: 1
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Informative: 1
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Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 09/23/21 07:35pm

***** ******* *** *************, as **** ** **** have ************ ** ***** party *******. *** ******* doesn't **** ** ** with ****************, *** ***** seems ** ** **** a ************ ******* *** there ******* ***'* ****** their ******* **** ** other *********** ********. **** to ** ** **** common ***** ******** ** you **** * ******** solution. ** **** *****, interoperability ** ****** ** to ******* *** ************** of ******** ********** **** systems ** ***** *** selling * ***** ** the *** ***** ******* on ****** ** ** the ****. * **** solution ** * **** solution ********** ** ***** model ** **.

Agree: 2
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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 09/23/21 11:22pm

*** ***** ***** ** be **** * ************ selling *** ***** ******* isn't ****** ***** ******* open ** ***** *********** products

****'* ** *********** *** of ******* **. ***, it's ** ****-*********** ******** and **** ********* ***** hurt ****** ** *** long *** ** ******** choice.

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to John Honovich | 09/24/21 12:23am

"***** **** ******" ***** are *** ******** ******** to ****, **************** **** 3rd ***** ***-********* ******** systems *.*. **** ****** etc. *** ** **** enough ************ ** ***** for *********** ** ******** the ******* ** ******* a ********. * ***** suspect ** ************ ******* systems **** *** **** that **** **** * responsibility ** ******** ***** product ** **** ** easier *** *********** ** leverage ***** ******** *** takeovers *** ***** ** nothing ********* ***** **** practice. ** *** ***** other ******* *** ****** their ******* ** **** to ****** ***, ***? If * *** * customer ****** * ******** I ***** ** **** concerned ** ** *** you're ******* ** * product **** ***** * "way ***" ********** ***** in ** ****, * am ******** * ******* I **** ** *** and ******* *** *** for *** ******** *********. When ********* ***** ******* about ***** ** **** ramps ** **** ***'* like *** ******* **** should ** **** ***** up *** *****. "******* buyers" ** *** ******* of **************** **** ***-********* systems ** ******** ****** less ****** *******, ****'* a **** ******** *** should ** **** ** the ****** ********* **** the ******** ****** *** design *****. **** ******* should ** ********** ************ the ******* *** **'* limitations *** ** **** aren't **** **** ** a ******* ** *** integrator *** *** ****** itself. "******* ******" ** terms ** ******** **-*** of *** ****** ********** with * ***********, *****, that ******* *** ******** finds *** ****** *********, wants ** **** *** system *** ***** *** a ******* ** **** that ********** ** ***** instances, ** *** ***** industry ** ********, ***** be * ***** *** replace. *****, *** ** advantage ** *** ***** systems *** **'* *** inherently ***** *** ********* who **** *** ****** and *** ***** *** don't **** "***" ** the ********.

Agree: 1
Disagree: 2
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Thomas Marino

09/23/21 03:19pm

** ** ** ***** experience ******* ******** ******* having ******* *** *********** in ********* ******* ***** close *****.

Agree
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Informative: 1
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