Rhombus Makes Secret Deals Not To Take Select Customers Hostage

By John Honovich, Published Sep 22, 2021, 08:45am EDT (Info+)

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 ** ******* ******

*** ******** ** ******* ********* ** is *****. ** **** **** ** buy *** *** ******* **** *** to ****** *** ******** **** *** install ****, ********* **** ** **** less ****** ** *****. *** ***** these ********* ******* ** ******* ************ to ****, **** ********** **** ******* recurring *******.***** *** ***** *** ** ******** of *** *****.

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

** ***-**** ****** * ******* **** Rhombus ***** ***** ******-** ** ******* and *** ***** **** ** ******** using *** ******* **** **** ********* if **** ******* ****** ******* * subscription.

*************, ******* ***** **** *** ******* to *********, **** ** ******* ***** that ***** ***** *** ** **** video ********* ******.

Rhombus ********

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

** *** **** ********* ** ** email ******* * ******* *********** **** that ******* *** **** ** ***** cameras *** *** **** ********* **.

** **** *********** ******** ** *** Rhombus ******* *** ******** ** ****** openness?

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

** ******** ****** ** *** **** and *’* ********* **** ***-**** ** clarify **** *** ***** *** ** I ******’* **** **** ** **** the ***** ***********. ******* *** **** context, *’* ******** *****’* ********* ******* missed **** ** ***********, *** *’* happy ** ******* **** ********** ** something ** ******* ********** ************.

**** *** * ********** ******** ** us ******* *** ******* ***** **** had **** ***** ***** ** ***** communication **** *** *** ****.

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

*** *** ********* ********** **** "** official ****** ** *** ****", *** we ********* ******* **** ******* '********' has *******.

*******, ********************** **** **** ****** ********* **** raise **** ** * ******* ** is *********** ***** ** ***** **** to **** ** **** ****** *** streaming *****? ***, ** **, *** not ***** **** ** *** *********?

******* **** ************ *** ****** ** IPVM:

***, **** **** *** ********* ** have **** ********** ** **** *** cameras ******** ** ***** ******* ** they **** **. ** **** ********** making **** ********* *** *** ********* in *** **** ******. **** *****

******* ******** ** ******* *** **** customers **** ******** ** **** ****** while ****** **** ***.

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

***** **** ** * **** ** deal ***** ** ********** *** *******. If * ***** ** *** *** enough ** **** *** ******** ****** enough, *** ******* **** ** **** option? *********** ********, ** ** ****** to **** **** ****** **.

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

******* ** * ******* ****** **** company **** ****** ****** ***********, ***, an ************* ******, ***., ** ** would ** ********* **** *** ******* to ******* ** **** ***** ********* option.

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

** *** **********, *** ***** *** often **** ** ***********, ********** ******** to *********** ***** ****** ********** ** getting ****** ** *** ***.

**** **** *** ****, ****** ****** speak ** *** ****** **** *** systems, ******* ** ** ******, *******, or ******* ******** ** **** ******. The ***** *** ***** **** ** but **** ****** *** **** ***'* company * ***** *** ** ***** years **** *** ****. ***, ***** companies, ** ******* *****, *** ****** do ** ** **** *** ****** to ** **.

** ** **** ******* ******** *** universally ****** ** **** ******, ** will ** * *** ****** ************ that *** ****** ******** ******* ** Hostage ** * *******.

Comments (21)

Undisclosed End User #1

09/22/21 01:18pm

********* **** ***** **** ** **** with *** "*** ****" **** ********** orgs. ********* **** **** ****** ***** the **** ** ***** *** ***** be ******** ** **** **** **. Which ****** *** ******* ******* ********* behind ** ******** *** **** ******.

** **** ** **** **** * standard ****** *** ***'* ****** ***** for **, * ***** ******* ***** begin ******* *** *** ** ***** VMS. (** ******** ***** ***** ****** to ***** ** **** ****)

** **** ** ******** **** *** systems ***** ****. ***** *****!

Agree: 3
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John Honovich

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

****, *** ******* ****** **** ****** / **-***** ******* / ***** ************, e.g.*** ******* ******

Agree: 3
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

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

**’* ****** **** **** **** ****.

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Duane Wilde

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

*** **** ** ** *****, ** recently ******** *** *** ***** ******* at * ***** ****** ********. *** project *** ********* ******** * *** based ****** ** **** ** ***** 60 ******** ********* ******* *******. *** deciding ******* ** ******* **** ******* was *** ******* (** **** ***** of) ** *** ******** ************ *** the *** ******* ***** *** ***** into ***** *******. ****** *** ************, the **** *** ***** ** *** was *** ****** **** *** ******* focusing *** **** *** ********* ** hours ***** ********* ****. * *** worried ***** *********** *** *** ******* end **** ********** **** *** ******** of ******* ********. ** *** *** experience *** **** **********, *** *** user ***** ** *** ** *** happy ** ***** *** ** * true ******* ** *** ****.

Agree
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Undisclosed #2

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

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Agree
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

09/23/21 01:22pm

* ***** ***** ** ********* ** a ********, ****** **** ****** ** available *** *** *** *****. ** I'm * *** ******** *** *** a *** ** ******* *******, ********** I **** ** *** ***** *******. I **** * ******* **** ***** would **** ** ** * *** of ******* ***** *** ** ** want ** **** ** ********* **** (let's **** **** ** *********). *** likely ** ** **** ** ******* couldn't *** ******** ******* **** * have, **** *'* ****** **** * monthly ***, **** **** **** **** do **** ********** *********** **** ** I ***'* **** ** *** *** fee?

* *** ******* **** **** ***** agree ** **** ** ***********, *** I ***** ** ********* **** ** wouldn't **** *** ** **** ** practice.

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John Honovich

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

* ***** ** ********* **** ** wouldn't **** *** ** **** ** practice.

**** **** ** *******, ******* **** not **** ** **** ***** ******* developed (***** ***** ** ****** ** do *** **'* *** *********) ** you *** ***** ******* **** **** do ******* ** *** *** **** developed ** *********** **** **** **.

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Undisclosed #6

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

**** *** ***** ** ** ** exact ******* **** ****.

* ***** ****** - ***** ** a **** ***** ****** - *** ability ** **** **** *** **** were ************ **** "****" *******. ** they ****'* **** ** ********* ** test? ** ****.

Agree: 1
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John Honovich

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

***, *** ******* ** ****, **** we ***** *********** ********** **** ******* ****:

****** **** **** *** '*** * viable ******' *** *********, ******* **** RTSP *** ***** ********** ** ******* without * ************ *** **** *** would *** ** **** ** **** camera ************* ******* ******* ***.

*** ******** ***'* **** ** ****** configurations ***** *** ** *** **** need ** ********* *** ******, *** would ** *******.

****, *** ******** ** *******, **** Avigilon, ****, *****, *********, ***., *** can ***** *** ******* ***** ***** you ****** * ******, **** ***** HaaS ********* ** ** ** *** are *** ****** ***** ************ *******?

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

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

****'* * **** ***** ***** ******* for *** ******'* ********. * ****'* even ***** ***** **** ***. ** they ** ****** ******* **** ***** promise ** **** ** *** ******, how **** **** **** ******* *******? Also, *** **** *** ****** *** firmware ******* ****** ** ***** ******? I ***** ***** *** * *** of ********* ****.

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Craig Bruce

09/23/21 01:45pm

**** ***** ***** ** ** **. "Promising" **** **** ***'* *** ****** in *** ** **** ** *** out, ** * **** *** **** actually ***** **** **. **** ** an *********** ***** ****** *** **** play ** *** ***-**** *** ******* them ** ***** ** **.

**** * **** ******** ***********, *** they ****** ******* **** *** ****** will *** **** ** *****? ****'* a ****** ****. ****** **** ***** platform, ** **** ********* ** *** well ** ******.

* ***** **** **** *** ** being ** ******** ****** ******* ******* parameters *** ****** **** ****, **** as ***** ***** ***** *** *** switch ** ***** ****** * ****** of *******.

****** *** ** *****'* **** ****** sense *** ********* ** ******** ** back * ******* **** *** ** real ********* ******* **** ******** *******, much **** *** ************ ** ****** new *******.

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John Honovich

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

****** *** ** *****'* **** ****** sense *** ********* ** ******** ** back * ******* **** *** ** real ********* ******* **** ******** *******, much **** *** ************ ** ****** new *******.

*****, * **** *** ** *** down ****** *** **** ****.

....

****, **** ********* **** ***** ************ products *** ****** *******, **** **********, without ******* ** ********* *** ********* ongoing *************. **** **** **** ***** to ***?

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Craig Bruce

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

****, *'** ** ******. **** ******* started ** *** ***** **** *** is *** ********** ******** ** * different ******** *****, ***** ******* ********* are ***** ** **** *********.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

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

*** ******** ** - *** **** really ********* - ** **** ******* about *********?

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John Honovich

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

***, ***** ***** *********. *** ******** for ********* / *** ***** ** how **** ***** *** **** ****** due ** ***** ****** ** ** how **** **** ***** ** **** make ** ******* ** *********.

*** ******* ******** ******** ******* ** as **** ******* ** ***** ***** now. **** ** ******** ** *******. If * ******** ** *** ****** and ********** **** ****** ** ****-**, selectively ***** ** *** **** **** in.

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

09/23/21 05:20pm

**** **** ******, **’* *** ***** perspective *** ** *** **** ********* perspectives. *** ****** **** ****** **** look ** ***** ********* ** ********** to * "****** ******". *** ** you **** ** *** ***** *** are ************ ******** **** *********** *** the ********** ** ***** *******, *** Technology ********* *** *** **** ******** with *** ********-**-*-******* *****. *** ******* assumes **** *** ******* ****** ** looked ** ** **** **** ** sperate ******** ** *** ******** ******* to *** ****** **** *** ******* should **** ******* ** *** **** solutions *********. ** * ***, *** market *** **** **** ******. **-**** systems **** ** ** ****** ****** systems ***** ***** ****** ************* ******* didn't **** ** **** *** ******. The ****** ** ******** *********** *****’* and *** ******** **** **** ******** based ** ******** *****, ********* ******** solutions ****** **** ** *** ********** not **** ******* ** ***** *** universal ******** ******* ** ******* ***** systems.

*** *** ********* **** *** ******** that ***** ** *********** ** ****** systems **** *** ***** ********* *** to ********** ********-**-*-******* ** * *****, is ********* ***** ******* ***, ** my *******, * ******** ****** ** service **** ** ******** ** **** end-users. ********** ** * ******** ***** where **** *** ********* *** ********* thin *** ** ********* *** ***** want * ****** **** ** ***** to ****, *** **** *** *********** set *** ******. * **** ********** would ** *** ******** ******* *****. Cisco, **, ******** ***. *** **** cloud-based *********** **** ***** ****** ******. Customers ********* *** ** ******** ** even ********* ** ****** ****** **** no *********** ** **** ******* *** the ***** ******* *** ****** *** access ****** **** ****** ** * different ************ *** ******* **** ** not ********** * ******* ********* ** the ** *****. **** ** ***** organizations *** ****** ***** ******* ** a *** * *** ********** ********** that *********** ** *** ********* **** of *** ****** *** *** ******** to ****** ****** *** ********* **** span ** ** *** ***** ******* with *** **** *****.

** ** ********** **** *** ***** their *** ********* *** ******* *** systems ****** ******** *** ** **** aren't, **** *** **** ********* ** an **** ****** ** *** ******* to **** *** **** ** *** software *** ******** *** ****** ******* which ** **** * *** ** their *** **** ** *** ********* in *** ***** *****. ***** ** always *** **** **** ***** **** any ******* ***** ***** *** ******* end-users ** *** ****, *** ***** risks *** ******** ** *** ******* to ******* ******* *** **** **** I **** ****, ***** ************* *** working ** ********* ** ***** ******** via ***** ****** ******* ******* *** for ** ***** *** ************, ******** users ** ******* *** **** ******.

** *** ******** ********** ** **** article, * ***’* **** *** ** issue **** ******* ******** ‘********’ ******* to **** *** *** ** ******. All ****** ***** *** ** **** certain ***********, ** * *** **** as ** *********. **’* ***** *********** and **** ** *** *********** ********* as ** ** *** **** **** choose ** ** ** *** * don’t *** ******** ********** ***** **** it *** **** **** ******* ************ offering *** ******** *** ***** *** another ******** * ****** ***** ** win * ****. *=** *** ***** of **** ******* *** ******** ** reflect **** ******** ** ***** ** Brivo ***** ****** **** ** **** the **** ******* ** * ***** cost ** **** ********* *** *** others. ***** ********* **** **** *** customer *** * ***** **** ** talk ** *** ********** **** ***** around ******* ***** ********* ***** *** terms ** *** ***** **** *****.

* ***** *** ********* ****** ** this ***** ** **** **** ** hostage ********* ** *** ** ********* review *** ***** **** **** * personal **********. ** ****, ** *** customer ***** *** ****** **** **** whole ******** ** ****. *** ** they **** *** ****** **** *** system *** ***** ** *** ****** and ** ****** **** *** ****** will ****** *** **** ** **** model. *** ** *** *** ***** where ******* *** ****** ******* *** wants ** ******, ** *** ******* system *******? ** ** ********? ********. It ******** **** *****'* *** *** personality ** *** *** **** *** will ***** ******* ******** ***** *** customer *** ******* * **-*****.

Agree: 3
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Undisclosed #2

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

…*** ********** *** **** ******* ** those *** ********* ******** ******* ** hostage ***** *******.

****’* ******* *** ********** *** ***, everybody *** **** ************* ** ****** their ***** **** ** ***.

***** * *** *****, ** ********** matured, ***-***** **** **** ********* **** mere ********** *********** *********, *** ******* clamoring *** ****************, ***** ********** ********.

*** **** ** *********, *** ** intentional ********* ** ****************, ** ** to ******** ******* ** ********** ***-**** options.

Agree: 1
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Undisclosed Integrator #5

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

***** ******* *** *************, ** **** of **** **** ************ ** ***** party *******. *** ******* *****'* **** to ** **** ****************, *** ***** seems ** ** **** * ************ selling *** ***** ******* ***'* ****** their ******* **** ** ***** *********** products. **** ** ** ** **** common ***** ******** ** *** **** a ******** ********. ** **** *****, interoperability ** ****** ** ** ******* the ************** ** ******** ********** **** systems ** ***** *** ******* * piece ** *** *** ***** ******* on ****** ** ** *** ****. A **** ******** ** * **** solution ********** ** ***** ***** ** is.

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John Honovich

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

*** ***** ***** ** ** **** a ************ ******* *** ***** ******* isn't ****** ***** ******* **** ** other *********** ********

****'* ** *********** *** ** ******* it. ***, **'* ** ****-*********** ******** and **** ********* ***** **** ****** in *** **** *** ** ******** choice.

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

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

"***** **** ******" ***** *** *** distinct ******** ** ****, **************** **** 3rd ***** ***-********* ******** ******* *.*. door ****** ***. *** ** **** enough ************ ** ***** *** *********** to ******** *** ******* ** ******* a ********. * ***** ******* ** manufacturer ******* ******* **** *** **** that **** **** * ************** ** engineer ***** ******* ** **** ** easier *** *********** ** ******** ***** products *** ********* *** ***** ** nothing ********* ***** **** ********. ** all ***** ***** ******* *** ****** their ******* ** **** ** ****** out, ***? ** * *** * customer ****** * ******** * ***** be **** ********* ** ** *** you're ******* ** * ******* **** needs * "*** ***" ********** ***** in ** ****, * ** ******** a ******* * **** ** *** and ******* *** *** *** *** expected *********. **** ********* ***** ******* about ***** ** **** ***** ** they ***'* **** *** ******* **** should ** **** ***** ** *** flags. "******* ******" ** *** ******* of **************** **** ***-********* ******* ** possibly ****** **** ****** *******, ****'* a **** ******** *** ****** ** part ** *** ****** ********* **** the ******** ****** *** ****** *****. Good ******* ****** ** ********** ************ the ******* *** **'* *********** *** if **** ****'* **** **** ** a ******* ** *** ********** *** the ****** ******. "******* ******" ** terms ** ******** **-*** ** *** system ********** **** * ***********, *****, that ******* *** ******** ***** *** system *********, ***** ** **** *** system *** ***** *** * ******* to **** **** ********** ** ***** instances, ** *** ***** ******** ** scenario, ***** ** * ***** *** replace. *****, *** ** ********* ** the ***** ******* *** **'* *** inherently ***** *** ********* *** **** the ****** *** *** ***** *** don't **** "***" ** *** ********.

Agree: 1
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Thomas Marino

09/23/21 07:19pm

** ** ** ***** ********** ******* security ******* ****** ******* *** *********** in ********* ******* ***** ***** *****.

Agree
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