Comcast SmartOffice (Using Genetec and Axis) Profile

By Brian Karas, Published Mar 29, 2017, 05:49am EDT

Comcast has more than 20 million subscribers and $80 billion in revenue.

Now Comcast is partnering with Genetec and Axis to deliver a "surveillance package for all types of business" with SmartOffice to its large customer base.

IPVM spoke with Comcast's Executive Director of Premise Services, Christian Nascimento [link no longer available], who led the development of this offering for Comcast.

In this report, we analyze Comcast's video offering, and how this will impact the security market for traditional integrators.

Comcast ***********

*********** ** *******'* ******* ***** service, ***** ** **** *****-*** (****) ******* *** *******'* ********** ***** *******. ****************** ** ****, *** ******* confirmed **** *** ******* version ** ********** ******* to **** *** ******, though ***** **** **** some ******* ************ *** API ********** ***** *** test.

*** **********, *** ***** ** stored ** *** *****, with ** ******** ** the ******** ********. **** interface ** **** ** recorded ***** ** ******* Comcast-specific ******* *** ***** apps, ** ** * desktop *** *******.

*********** ** ********* ** select ******* *********, *** Comcast ***** ** **** it ********* ** *** their ******* ** ***-****.

*** *** ******* ***** Office ** **** ********* **** ******* ** functionality.

Pricing - ** ******* *****

*** ***** ****** ** $30/month, **** ********** ****** cameras ***** $**/** *** outdoor ******* $**/**. **** includes * **** ** video *********, ****** ******* can ** ********* ** 30 **** (*** ********** monthly *******). ******* **** not ****** *** ******** for ************, ** *** upfront **** *** *** cameras, ****** *** ******** potentially ********** ** ***** businesses **** ** *** have *** ******* ** invest ** ***** ** a ******** ********. ***** are ** ***-**** *******, but ** ** ******* to * *** ** 4 ********.

Targeting ***** ******** *********

**** ******** ** ******** at *** *****/****** ******** market - *********** ******, bars/restaurants, **** **** **********, and ***** ******* *** example. *** **** ******, Comcast ********* **** ********* will **** * ********** limited ****** ** *******, generally **** **** **. Targeting ***** ******* ******* should ****** *** *********** for ****-********* *************, ** upstream ********* *********** *** the ***** *********.

Federation *******

********** ******* *** ******* Genetec's ********** *******, ***** ****** *** video *** ** ********* viewed ** *******. **** allows ******* ** ********* the ******* ***** ***** ******* ******* ** ******* to ***** ******, ** SmartOffice ***** *** ********** Stratocast *******.

No ***** *** ***** ** ******

******* **** ***** *** no ***** *** *********** higher **** **** *********, though **** *** ******** this ***** ** ********* feedback.

No ***** ***** / ********* *******

****** ********** ****** ******* is hindered paritally ** **********'* **** of ********* *******, ***** would **** ****** ********** cameras *********** ********* ********* ** relying ** *********** *.***.

Comcast ** ******** **********

******** *********** ***** **** their ****** ********* **** pitching ***** *******, *** Comcast *** ********* ***** this. **** ******* ***** installers **** "****** ******* ****** locations" ** **** ** the ************ *******. *** company ** **** ******** 24/7 ******* *** ******/*********** of *******. **** **** of ******* ******** ** less ****** **** ***********, ***** interested ** ********* ******** may **** ** ****** our ******* / *********** ********* Guide.

Poor ********** ********

** ** ******* ** differentiate *** ********, ******* shows *** ******** **** are **** ********** **** arguments *** ***** ******.

** *** ***** *******, Comcast ***** *** ***** viewing ***** ** ***** camera ******** ** *********** *** with ***** ***** **** not **** ****** *** with **** ****, **********'* will ********* **** ******* ***** density **** ****** ********** cameras.

** ******* *** *** 'night ******' ************, *** person ***** ** *** camera ** ****** ***/*********** and ****** **************. ***** the ********** ******* ** no ******, *** **** of *** **** ******** appears ** **** ****** overall ******** **** *** SmartOffice *******.

Compared ** *********** *********

**** ******* *** *** installs *** ********* ***** average *** *** ********** *******.**** ********** ********* ** **** ****** with ***** ** ** 3MP ** *** **********. Additionally, *** * *** storage ******** ** **** far ***** *** **** typical ** *** ********* ******* ** **** integrators.

* * ****** ****** 'SmartOffice' ****** **** **** users $**/***** ($***/****). ***** this **** ******* ******* and *********** ** ****** components, ** **** ** several ***** **** ********* than * * ****** 1080p ** ****** ****** with * ********** *********** contract **** *** ******* lifetime ** *** ******.

Benefits *** *******

** *** * ****** of ******** *** ******* here:

  • ******* **** ****** ************ in ***** ****** ***** applications. *** ******* **** ***** Genetec * ***** ******* to ******* ********* **** it ********* ***** *** have **** ****** ** win.
  • *** ******* ** ******** video **** ***** ***** businesses **** *******'* ********** VMS ********, ******** ******, could ** * ******* to *** **** ****** that *** ******* *** their ********* / ****** / **** *******.
  • ********, *** ****** **** Genetec ** *** *** the *** ***, ******** up * ******** **** via ******* *********** **** the ********* ** ******** those **** *** ***** police ***** **** ******* more ********** *** ********** VMS ********.

Integrators ********* **** *******

*******, *********** *** ******* with ******* ** **** levels ** ********:

  • ****** ********** (*.*., **** 720p)
  • **** ****** ****** (** ***** one)
  • ****** ******* (*.*., **** than * ****)
  • ***** ****** (*.*., * Hikvision * ****** ****** can ** ****** *** less **** * **** ** the *********** **** ****)
  • ***'* *** ******* ******* (e.g., * ********* ****** can ** '******' *** $10 *** ***** *** camera *** ***** **** significant *******, ***.)

Comments (19)

Undisclosed #1

03/29/17 02:34pm

To be sure, does the offering include Internet services or this is above and beyond? 

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Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/29/17 02:39pm

This is in addition to anything the customer is paying for Internet/phone service.

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Undisclosed End User #10

In reply to Brian Karas | 04/02/17 06:54pm

That does not really answer the question. Does the offering include the data connection required for smart office or is it an additional monthly cost?

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Paul Shah

In reply to Undisclosed End User #10 | 04/02/17 07:59pm

This is based on what they are doing in Detroit:

 

"Comcast Business Deluxe 50 Internet service is required with the $139.75 base package. The monthly charge for Deluxe 50 Internet service is $89.95 per month"

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Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #10 | 04/02/17 09:30pm

No, it does not include the data connection. The price for the cameras is in addition to what customers are paying Comcast for internet access.

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Undisclosed #2

03/29/17 02:40pm

Either Comcast will tarnish Axis and Genetic by affiliation, or this will be very bad for small integrators. 

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 03/29/17 02:43pm

But small integrators do not usually use Axis or Genetec anyway so what would their concern be?

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Undisclosed Integrator #3

03/29/17 03:43pm

Not a surprise that Axis came out and partnered with someone that may lack the past performance or public view as an "integrator" as a way of getting passed their slowing year over year growth in camera sales (or reduction in it). 

On Genetec's side, Stratocast has lacked from the large wins outside of it's use in public-private partnerships. As they are looking to grow their cloud, the best way to do that with a product more catered to the SMB market (something the average Genetec dealer is not successful in), it isn't surprising they looked outside the security industry to find a way to give Stratocast a potential major win as a stand-alone product.

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Undisclosed #4

03/29/17 04:05pm

I heard about something like this a few years ago.  It makes perfect sense for service providers and I expect to see more of it.  Service providers sell bandwidth, cameras use lots of bandwidth.

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

03/29/17 06:20pm

A local security company had an in depth blog post addressing the Cable Company as a security company issue. I'm guessing they are feeling the pressure.

 

 

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

03/29/17 06:43pm

In concept, this is brilliant for all three parties involved. In execution and service, time will tell. While Comcast is trying to right its ship of years of horrific customer service, big ships turn slowly. Adding a layer of service demands in a completely new technology to them will certainly have some challenges. Who's responsible when something doesn't work as intended? Three throats to choke. Will be interesting to watch it unfold. 

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Undisclosed End User #11

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #6 | 04/02/17 07:13pm

I am going to assume the end user will have no idea Axis or Genetec is even involved in this offering.  This will be a Comcast branded service, I doubt there will be any 3rd party branding involved, and would the end user using this product be upset at Axis or Genetec if something does not go right, I don't think so.  No they will be upset with Comcast.  And honestly Comcast's "Business" unit is very responsive, not at all like the home unit.  I had Comcast business at one of my business and the customer service was outstanding, not at all like my old home service, I say "OLD" because I am now cordcutter, and never looking back

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

In reply to Undisclosed End User #11 | 04/02/17 08:39pm

Agreed, good points. I may stand corrected. We'll see. Even if branding is strictly Comcast, back office collaboration between the three on technical issues is still a factor on successful implementation, whether visible to the public or not.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #7

03/29/17 08:45pm

Why is ZipStream not supported?  Does the DGOV mess up the cloud stream, which is looking for I-Frames at specific intervals?  Or is this just an older camera that doesn't have ZipStream?

Is this common for a "VMS" or cloud service to not support a smart codec?

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Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #7 | 03/29/17 08:54pm

I asked Genetec for specifics on why Zipstream was not supported by Stratocast, but did not receive a response.  I will followup with them again. The Axis camera used does support Zipstream.

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Undisclosed Integrator #8

03/29/17 09:24pm

The only real beneficiary I see in this is Genetec.  It's truly a win-win for them.  Comcast could horribly flop on installs using their third party contractors.  Residential integrators suffer further unnecessary competition.  As long as Genetec Stratocast works they are simply raking in money for an already developed product.  Well played Genetec and congrats for thinking long term regarding the cloud.

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Undisclosed #9

03/30/17 12:50am

Comcast customer service is SOOO bad. I feel sorry the people who actually pay for this service.

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Undisclosed #12

04/02/17 09:54pm

All 3 will 'win' - at least for a short time....

Axis gets to sell POS 720p cameras that nobody else will buy...

Genetec gets to sell to a much lower market than they could ever reach before...

Comcast adds an extra value add to their existing product...

It's really all on the cable guy at this point (and maybe both Axis and Genetec upping their individual component offerings [1080p at least and ZipStream support]).

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Michael Miller

04/02/17 10:30pm

Does anyone know if Comcast is dropping in a dedicated WAN connection for this or are they sharing the WAN connection with the Corp network?

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