*Proximex Surveillint 3.0 won the New Product Showcase in the convergence category. I spent time chatting with Al Liebel and Diane M.Z. Robinette about the company and the product. What I like best is that it guides security personnel through your company's policies if there is a situation that needs extra attention. Al said the command-and-control software takes "people out of the process as much as possible." In my opinion, I think it empowers employees to make decisions by providing them with the data they need to effectively do their jobs.
*I caught up with two ex-Cisco workers. Bob Beliles, now vice president of Enterprise Business Development for Hirsch Electronics, said the company will be taking a more aggressive stance in the market and noted that identity initiatives — FIPS 201, HSPD-12 — will have a trickle down effect, driving business in the corporate space.
I caught up with Mark Kolar, who with Beliles was integral in building Cisco's physical security business, over at his new company Agent Vi, where he serves at vice president of Channel Programs for the Americas. Kolar's enthusiasm regarding Agent's edge analytics is infectious. He and Rob Hile, vice president of business development for integration partner Adesta, told me about Agent's new "3-for-free" promo, which allows businesses to deploy any three of the company's analytics applications through it or its channel partners on up to three IP cameras for as long as 90 days. After the trial, companies that order more Agent Vi analytics for at least 10 cameras can keep the initial three free to change for the duration of the license. Pretty cool, huh?
*Ionit Technologies announced that it has completed the installation of its DVRs at 6,200 Walgreens facilities and distribution centers nationwide. Jim Talbot, CEO and founder of Ionit, said this is "a lot more than a DVR." Rather, it is a data collection system. I'm also hoping to catch up with Ken Amos, director of loss prevention for Walgreen's, this week.
*I sat down with Steve Walin, chairman and CEO at GVI Security/Samsung Electronics, and he was happy to report that the company is back in the black after some dismal financial and industry results. Now, GVI has experienced four quarters of profitability and Walin said that signifies a financial turnaround. GVI also launched its first line of IP products and annouced a line of $1.5 million in funding from Samsung to increase its market share. The goal is to "double our market share in three years," he said. It is currently marked at 2 percent in the Americas.
*As for the nightlife, it was plentiful as always. GE Security held a pretty neat party at Tao in the Venetian, so did Dedicated Micros the evening before. ADI held its annual customer bash at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay with a band that played some cool Pink Floyd covers. Pelco had its party on Thursday night as well, but as with prior years I was left without a ticket. I did hear it was a good time from Pelco's CEO Dean Meyers — with two remaining members of Creedence Clearwater Revival taking the stage. As with any event in Vegas, these things are tough to get into. I found myself waiting behind a velvet rope and a bouncer to get in at a majority of them because they hit capacity early.
