Eagle Eye Networks acquires Panasonic CameraManager, expands European presence

Cloud-based video systems are becoming more common in the market, growing faster than on-site recording systems. One of the largest companies in the cloud video sector, Eagle Eye Networks is aggressively expanding its offerings to the fast-growing market, and its geographic reach, with acquisition of Panasonic’s cloud-based video business, including the CameraManager and NuboCam brands.

Expanding Eagle Eye Networks' coverage in Europe

The acquisition will expand Eagle Eye Networks’ coverage in the European region, where the CameraManager system is popular, and will include two additional data centres, to be added to EagleEye Network’s existing global network of seven data centres. The acquisition will also include existing CameraManager coverage in Latin America and Asia. The division’s 45 employees, including the managing director and technical director, are leaving Panasonic and joining Eagle Eye Networks. Panasonic Cloud Management Services Europe B.V. will be renamed Eagle Eye Networks B.V. The main product will be renamed Eagle Eye CameraManager.

“Companies want the convenience of connecting cameras at a lower price point,” says Ken Francis, President of Eagle Eye Networks. “CameraManager is attractive to a segment of companies dealing with fewer cameras per site.”

CameraManager existing relationships

Eagle Eye Networks has been wanting to expand its footprint in Europe, including more channel partners. Along with the CameraManager acquisition come existing relationships with about 125 dealer/integrators in Europe providing cloud video services to small businesses. CameraManager also has two private-label agreements with Pronet Security Services in Turkey and with Securitas, which will both transition to EagleEye Networks. CameraManager has the largest small business/commercial camera count in Europe, not counting consumer cloud video.

In addition to growing geographically, the acquisition will expand Eagle Eye Network’s business “down market;” that is, to smaller businesses with even fewer cameras and less-expensive systems. CameraManager’s approach to cloud-based video involves cameras that are connected directly to the Internet, an approach that works well for small businesses that need only a couple of cameras. In contrast, EagleEye Networks’ cloud-based system involves the use of a video management system (VMS) “bridge” appliance connected to the Internet at each location, to which cameras are connected; an approach that works well with applications requiring six or more cameras per site.

“Now we can provide dealers both bridge and bridgeless solutions, everything they want,” says Francis.

Panasonic NuboCam

The acquisition will also include Panasonic’s relatively new NuboCam business, which offers a self-contained cloud-ready camera enabling telecommunications companies to connect to 4G/LTE networks. In effect, Eagle Eye networks will now offer three cloud video platforms worldwide.

Combining the two technologies also provides opportunities for existing CameraManager dealers now to offer larger systems typical of Eagle Eye, and for existing Eagle Eye dealers to offer smaller systems. CameraManager was one of the earliest cloud video systems to launch, and has kept its technology current over the last seven or eight years, says Francis.

Eagle Eye Network’s sister access control company, Brivo, will also be integrating with CameraManager using the application programming interface (API), enabling Brivo customers to purchase lower-priced cloud video systems.