Lessons Learned From 15 Years of VSaaS

JH
NC
John Honovich and Nadhir Cherfaoui
Published Jun 06, 2024 11:46 AM

Virtually all early VSaaS offerings from 15 years ago, including from Axis, have failed, but now a new generation of offerings is going mainstream, and we expect cloud providers to dominate in the 2030s.

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What lessons can we learn from the failures over the last 15 years? In our 2010 comparison of 26 VSaaS offerings, we covered dozens of companies, including most that few still remember, such as Archerfish, ByRemote, NeoVSP, Rogo, Sensr.net, Secure-i, Starvedia, Viaas, Videocells, Vue and Xanboo.

This report explains the key themes of what went wrong and what lessons this provides for assessing VSaaS and other markets.

*** ****** *** *** *****, ** the ***** *****, **** **** ********** and *********** ***********, ****** ** ********* impossible *** *** *********** ** *******. While ***** *** **** ** * market ** * *******, ***** *** too *****, ** ***** ********* ************, is ***.

** *** ********* ******* *** ******* of ***** ** *** ***** ***** and ********** ** ******** ************ *** **** *** *****. ***** each ****** ******* **** **** *** own ********** ********, *** ******* ***** of ******* *** ***** ***** ** important *** ************** *** ************* ** consider.

************, ***** ********* ***** **** *********** challenges **** **** ******** ** *******:

  • Bandwidth ***********: High-quality video required substantial data transmission, which was expensive, slow, and restricted in resolution and camera count due to upstream bandwidth constraints since networks were often asymmetrical. Today, increased internet speeds and affordable bandwidth have resolved these issues, enabling VSaaS providers to offer reliable video streaming even in remote locations.
  • Operational *****: Transitioning from on-premise to cloud solutions involved high switching costs, making it financially risky for incumbent companies. Now, with reduced operational costs due to a more established and growing VSaaS market, more manufacturers are increasingly targeting cloud solutions for their platforms.
  • Web ************: Early technologies for real-time video streaming, such as HLS, were underdeveloped, limiting the functionality of VSaaS solutions. Modern advancements in web technologies, particularly with the introduction of HTML5, have significantly improved real-time video streaming, making VSaaS more functional and reliable when deployed through a browser.
  • Mobile ************: While early mobile networks like 3G were slow and unreliable, limiting mobile video streaming capabilities, today's advanced mobile networks and robust application development platforms enable providers to support efficient video streaming on mobile devices.

Bandwidth ********** *** ********* **** **** ************

***** ***** ***** ********* *** ******** value, *** ********* ******** *** ****-******* video ***** * *********** *********. ******** connections **** ****** ************, **** **** slower ****** ****** **** ******** ******. This ******* ********** *** ********** *** the ****** ** ******* **** ***** be *********** **** ** * ***** setup. ********* ********* ***** ********** **** video ******* *** ******** *************, ****** them ********* ** ***** ***** ***** solutions. ** * ******, ********* ********* to ***** * ***** ******** **** to ******* *****.

******** ******* ********* **** ***** ******** of *****, **** ***** *** *********** address ***** ******. ***** ******* ** sell **** ********* ** ********* **** insufficient ** ******** *** **** ******** of ******* ************** *** **** *****. The ********* ** ****** ***** ****** was ********** ** *** ********** ********* infrastructure, ***** ******** *** **** ******** of *****. ** *** *** ***** faster *** **** ******** ******** ******** became ********** **** ***** ********* ***** effectively ******* *** ***** ****-******* ***** streaming.

*****, ** **** ***** *****, ********* is *** ** *****, **** ******** providers ********** *********** ****-***** ******** ******* enterprise *** *****-***** ********. ***** **** better ******* ************, ***** ********* **** pivoted **** **** ****-***** *********, ******* videos ******* ******* *** ********* **** the ********* **** ** *** *****, optimizing ********* *********. ** ****, ******** has ************* *********, ****** ** *** improved *********** *** *********** ** ****** VSaaS *********.

High ********* ***** *** ********* **********

********* **** **-******* ** *****-***** ********* was ****** *********. **** **** ******** significant *********** ** ******** *** *********** to ****** ******** *******, **** ** guarantee **** *** ********* ***** **** the *** ********* ********. *** ********* risk **** ********* ******** ** ******* cloud-based *****, ** ** ***** ************* impact ***** ****** ******* *** ***** to ****.

** ******** ***** ***** ** **** time, ********* ********* **** ********* *** Genetec ***** *** * ********* ******** as **** ***** ***** ******** ** software ******* ***** ******* ***** **** operations **-**** ******* ** ***** ********** to *****-***** *********. ********, *** ***** tend ** ****** *********** ********* **** offer * **** ***** ** ******** and ***************, **** ** ***** *** not *** **** ******** ** *** market. **** ******* ****** *** ******** of **** *****-***** *****. *******, **** time, ** *********** ***** ********* *** the ***** ****** ****** **** ***********, more ************* ***** ********* ***** ********* for ***** *********.

*****, **** *** ********** **** ********* and ******* ********* *** ****** ** VSaaS ** ********* *** ********.******* ******** ****** ****** * ****** ****** ************ **** aims ** ********* **** ***** *** on-premise *********.*********'* *** **** ******** *** *******'* ********** ** ***** is *******, **** * **** ********** estimated *** *** **** ******, ************ their ********** ** * ****** ***** strategy ** *** **** ***.

Web ************ ****** ******

***** *** ************ **** *** ******** to ****** *** ******* ** ****-**** video *********, ***** *** ******* *** VSaaS. *** ********* **** ** **** Live ********* (***) *** ******* ******** Streaming **** **** (****) **** ***** in ***** ***** ******. ***** ********* are ********* *** ********* ***** ******* in **** **** ***** ** *** user's *********, ***** ******* ****** *** continuous ******** ******* ************* ** *********.

***** ***** ********* ** ******* * satisfactory **** ********** ******* ***** ****** technologies, *** ************ ** ***** ****** a ************ ** ****** ********** *******, APIs, *** ****** ******** ** ******** and ****-**** **************. **** ******* *** significant ************ ** ****-**** ***** *********, making ***** **** ********** *** ******** when ******** ******* * *******.

***** *** ************ **** ******* *******, supporting ******** *** ****-******* ***** *********, making ****** ***** ********* ********* *** viable.

Early ****** ******** *** ******* ************

** *** **** *****, ****** ********** could *** ******* ********* ***** ********** and *********. ****** ******** **** **, characterized ** *** ********* *** **** latency, **** ** ********* ** ****** high-quality ***** ********. **** ********** ***** that ***** ***** ********* ***** *** offer ********** ****** ******, * ******* feature *** **** *** ***** *****.

****** ***** ********* ************ **** ******* improved ** ****** ********** ******* ** faster *** **** ******** ******** **** 5G, ***** ****** *** *******, ****** bandwidth, *** ******* *** **** ********* devices. ************, ****** *********** *********** ********* like *** *** ******* ******** ********** with *** ***** *** **** ****** to ****** ********* ****** ************ **** advanced ***************, ******** ********* ****** ****** for ***** *********.

Consumer ** ******** ******

***** ********* ***** ** ****** ***** directly ** *** *****, ***** ****** for ********* **** *** ** *** cameras *** ****** *********** ****** *** enterprises ***** ***** ******* ************* **** cameras. ********* *********** *** *********** ********** made **** ***** ***** *********** *** larger *************.

Failed ***** ********

*** ******* ***** ******* ***** *** not ***** ** ***** ***.***** ******** **** ** **********, *****.***, *** ************* ***** *********** ********** that ******** ***** ****-**** *******. **********'* products, *** ******* *** ****, *********** issues **** *********** ***** ************ *** frequent ***** ******. ******* ********** *** existing ******** ********** **************, *****.*** ********* with ******* ******* ******** *** *** performance ** ******-***** ** *******. ************* faced ******* ****** **** *** ******** on **** *** ********* ******* **** required ******** ********, ***** ***** ** the ********** ** *** *****.

***** ***** ***** ********* ********* **** inadequate **************, **** *****, *** ******* setups, ***** ********* **** **** ********* long-term ******* ** *** ******** ***** segment.

Focus ** ******* ********* **** **-**** *******

***** ******* **** ***** *** ******* from ***** ********. **** ********** **-**** buffering *********, **** ******* ***'* ***** ******, ** ******** ********* ****** *** improve ***********. ********, ***** ******** ********** with ***** ***** ******* *** ********, allowing ********** ** *** ***** ******** hardware. **** ******** ********* *** ******** needs ** ********** *****, *** ***** the *** *** **** ********* ****** cloud ******.

Hostage **********

*******, ******* *** *** ** *** 2010s, ***** ******** **** ** *******, Rhombus, *** ******, **** ********-**-*-******* (****) *****, ******** *** *********** **** ******* video ** *** ******, **** *********** the ***, ******** * ********** *** financial ******* **** *****.

*******

**** ***** ******** ******** **********, *** new *********** ** ***** ******* ******* VSaaS ********* *** *** **** ******** themselves **** ****, ***-** ***** ********, and ******* *** ****** *****, ***** we **** ******* ** *** **** report ** **** ******, ***** ***** of *** ****** ****.

Comments (7)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Jun 06, 2024

*** **** **** *** **********/******* ********** in ******** ******, ******** ** ***** primarily ********* **********? ***** ********* ********** generally **** **** **** *** ***********/************, strategic ******** *** ** **** **** difficult ** *******.

**** *** ************ **** * ******** for ******** *** *********** ****** (*************: *********** ******** ***** ******).

*** "*******" **** *** **** ** avoid *********** ** **** ** ********, but ******** *********** **** **** ** do **.

************, *** *&* *********** ****/**** ****** to ****** * *******, ** **** have **** ******** ************* **** *********** security *************?

JH
John Honovich
Jun 06, 2024
IPVM

**** ******** / ********. * ********* believe **** ****** **** ********* ** buyers *** ******** ** ******** ********** as ********* ** ** ******.

* ******** **** *** **** **** and **** **** ********* ********* ********** the *****, **** ******* ** *** the *****'* ***** ** *** *********** not ******* **.

*** *** ******* *** *** ********** was **** *** **** ****** *** the ************ ******** ** **** **** use ***** **** *** ************ ******** of ********** ********.

********* ********** *** ************* ******, *** now ********* *** ************* **** ****** used. **** *** *****, ***.

*****/********?

(2)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Jun 06, 2024

* ***** **** *** *******, ****** selling ********* **** **** ***** **** cameras **** *** ********* ******* * change ** ** **********'* ********, *********** compensation, ** ********* *********. *** **** that ********-******* ********* **** **** **********, while ********/********/****** ********* **** ********* ** struggle ******** ****.

* ***** ******** ********** ** ****** 5-year ************ *********, *** ****** ** worse, *** ****** ******* **** *** both ***** *** *********** **** *** still ****** ** **** *********** **** large **** ******* ************.

JH
John Honovich
Jun 06, 2024
IPVM

***, **** *****, ***** *** *** fundamental *** ******** ****** ***** **: how ***** *** ********** ** *** whether ** ****** *******.

* ****** **** *.*** ********* ****** sales **** ********* ** *** **** 2000s (********* **** *******), **** ***** quite * ***** ****** ** ****** held ***, *** **** **** **** offered ****, ***** ****** ******* ** grow **** ******. * ***** **** is ** ******* ** **** *** are ******* **, ****** *** ********** from * *** ******** ** **** more *********** ******* ****** **** ***** / ******** ** ********* ** ********* that *** ******** ******* ** ** them.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Jun 07, 2024

**** ***********; **** ************* ********* **** integrators *** ******** ******** ** **** as (****-*********, ****-******, ******-***) *********, *** that **** ****** *** ***** ********* the ************ **** * *** ** cost *** **** ****** *** ********** not ******* *** *******.

****** *** *********** ** * ********** or * ******* ******* **** *** the *** ****, *** **** ******** as ***** **** '****' ********.

*** ** **** ******** ***-**** ********* are *** *** **** **** *** high-frequency ******, *** *** ****-********* ********* may ** ******* ***** ******* *********. The **** *****-**** *****-**** *** ***** are *********** *** ******* ****** ** opportunities, *** *** ****** ******** ***, and ** ********* ** *** *** to **** **** **** ********** **** well.

** ***** ********, **'* ********* ** know *** **** ****** ***.

Avatar
Alex Knapik
Jun 07, 2024
Arcules (Cloud VSaaS within Canon Group)

***** *******, **** ***********!

***** **** ****** ******* ************, ***** providers **** ******* **** **** ****-***** solutions, ******* ****** ******* ******* *** streaming **** *** ********* **** ** the *****, ********** ********* *********.

* ***** ******-** ** **** *****. Not ****** ** ****** ***% ** cameras ** *** ***** ***% ** the **** - *** ** * combination ** **** ******* (** ** card *** *********) *** **** ********** (i.e., ******** + **** ******-***** *********) is ** *** ** *********** ** improved ************. ** **** **** ********* with *** ********* ** ****** ** the ***** *** **** **** ** not.

EM
EP Myburgh
Jun 09, 2024

*** ******** ***** ****** ** **** interesting ******. *** **** ** *** up *** ****** **** ***** ********* wont ** **** ** * ******** or ***, ** ** ******* ** to ****** ***** *** ** *******, you **** **** * *** *** players ******** *** **** ***** *** money. ******* ********* ********* ********* *** monitoring ** **** ** *** ********* stages **** **** ** *** *** coming '***' ***.

*** ***** ******* ****** ** ******* for ********* **** ********* **** ***** while *********** ******* **** ****** **** a ******* ******** *******. *** *********** cant ******* ** ********* / ********* attacks, *** *** ** *** ***** of ***** ******* ******** *********. *** market ** **** *** ** ******* levels ** ***** ** *** ****** of *******, ***** ** * **** need *** **********. ** ***'* **** about *** **** *** ***** ** the ******, ** **** ** ** can ** *** ***. *** ****** per ******* */* ***** ****** ******* cameras **** ********* *****.

*** **** ** ***** **** ***** providers ***** ******* *** *** '****** man', ******* ********* ***** ***** **** to ****, ******* & ******** ***** systems *** ** ** ** *********. With **** ****** *** ****** ** make * ****** ******* ** ***** end ** ****** **** *** ***** cloud ***** ********, **** **** **** tell.

(1)