Extending its leadership in the transition to IP-based surveillance, Sony Electronics recently unveiled seven new IP cameras with new features such as MPEG-4 compression, two-way audio, wireless technologies and day/night capability.

Sony recently showcased new technologies in analog cameras, digital recorders and third-party enhancements to its Real Shot Manager video monitoring software as the result of a new open platform offering for security software developers.

"IP-based surveillance brings a fundamental advance in security systems, and Sony continues to set the pace with our new network cameras that, together with our successful existing products, make for a comprehensive lineup," said Bill Lee, general manager of the security products group for Sony's Broadband Communications Products Division. "At the same time, we continue to support the analog market with significant improvements brought by the latest digital technologies."

New Sony IP Cameras: Solutions for Every Situation
SNC-M Series:
Debuting one of its most versatile camera lines to date, Sony is introducing the SNC-M Series, an affordable range of four all-in-one, network cameras that incorporate built-in web servers, network interfaces and built-in microphones with dual-audio capabilities in a sleek, stylish form factor. The M Series supports both JPEG and MPEG-4 compression formats. MPEG-4 compression can be used to facilitate smooth video and audio streaming over limited bandwidth, without compromising the quality. (320 x 240 sized images offer a maximum frame rate of 30 fps.)

Ideal for use in venues ranging from private residences to corporate settings, the M Series cameras are designed to be simple to install and operate, and select models support the IEEE 802.11b standard for wireless operation. The cameras can be wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted or placed on a desktop, and two models are equipped with pan/tilt capabilities.

The M Series camera settings, controls and monitoring can be easily accomplished via an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) on a PC using standard web browsers. Select models allow the assignment of user names and passwords to up to ten different user groups to permit control of the cameras. All models ship with plug-and-play DDNS viewer/recorder software for surveillance management.

The SNC-M1, SNC-M1W, SNC-M3 and SNC-M3W are planned to be available in December at suggested list prices ranging from $300 to $460.

SNC-RZ25N:
As a follow-up to its successful SNC-RZ30N pan-tilt-zoom camera, Sony is introducing the SNC-RZ25N, which offers the option of MPEG-4 compression in addition to JPEG to optimize bandwidth resources. The MPEG-4 option will make this camera a viable solution for an even broader base of academic, corporate and institutional environments who want to utilize their existing IP networks.

The SNC-RZ25N also offers an optimized level of sensitivity, further enabled by the new "Day/Night" function. During daylight hours, the camera acquires images in color. As the surveillance scene darkens, the infrared cut-filter is automatically replaced with a clear filter and switches to black-and-white.

Users will also benefit from exceptional picture quality through ? type Exwave HAD? technology, audio monitoring capabilities, and a slot for Compact Flash or wireless networking capabilities.

Sony's SNC-RZ25N network video camera is planned to be available in December for a suggested list price of $1,600.

SNC-DF Series:
Sony's unobtrusive mini-dome cameras, popular in high-traffic areas such as building entrances, transportation hubs and shopping malls, are now being offering as IP network cameras. Like the analog versions, the SNC-DF40N and SNC-DF70N offer a ?-inch Super HAD CCD producing 480 TV lines of resolution. They come with a built-in CS mount, 3-8 mm auto iris vari-focal lens to offer a broad range of viewing options, and day/night functions for optimized sensitivity in light or dark environments.

The SNC-DF40N is planned to be available in October for a suggested price of $890, and the SNC-DF70N is planned to be available in December for a suggested price of $1,100.

New Technologies Improve Analog Offerings
SSC-E Series:
Sony continues to make significant investments in enhancing its analog product offerings. The SSC-E Series color video cameras featuring the new SuperExwave CCD combined with the latest advances in digital signal processing for day/night monitoring and surveillance applications. The new SuperExwave sensor extends viewing into a wider range of lighting scenarios.

The E Series' stylish design and features such as cord covers enable the cameras to blend in well with the existing room d?cor, and a specially designed lens cover discreetly protects the lens from dust.

The SSC-E453 and SSC-E473 video cameras are planned to be available in November, at suggested list prices of $280 and $390, respectively.

HSR-X206 Multi-channel Recorder:
Analog systems can add powerful IP Security capabilities by replacing legacy multiplexers and analog time lapse VCRs with the HSR-X206 multi-channel hard disk recorder, a drop-in digital upgrade for tape-based closed circuit security systems that adds real-time remote video monitoring and reviewing while lowering maintenance costs typically associated with analog VCRs.

Sony's HSR-X206 digital recorder will be available in October for the suggested list price of $3,800.

API Brings Innovation under the Sony Umbrella Industry-Wide
Sony has opened the application program interface (API) for its Real Shot Manager video management software platform, building on its success by offering it as a common development platform for the security industry. With this, innovative software from across the industry can integrate seamlessly and easily with the Real Shot Manager platform, creating custom installations without the need for custom programming.

Leading software developers ObjectVideo, Vidient, Systems and MATE Technologies are supporting the new platform.