Honeywell creates open technology alliance to increase interoperability with third-party video systems

Honeywell has announced the Honeywell Open Technology Alliance, a group of global security manufacturers that will collaborate to help businesses more easily secure and protect their facilities by increasing interoperability between third-party IP systems. As part of the initiative, Honeywell will work with security manufacturers to integrate their IP cameras and systems with its flagship MAXPRO® VMS video management system, as well as make its own devices more-easily compatible with other vendors' management platforms.  

The Honeywell Open Technology Alliance currently includes North America and European based manufacturers such as Milestone Systems, OnSSI, Heitel and IproNet Sistemas S.A. 

"Because security needs are becoming more complex and unique, we're seeing more companies and organisations today using technology from multiple manufacturers to create the solutions they require," said Don Roberts, Strategic Corporate Accounts, Honeywell Security Group. "The goal of the Honeywell Open Technology Alliance is to give these companies and their integrators more choices when designing their security systems, and to make the process easier."   

Currently in use at several major sites, MAXPRO VMS simplifies security by helping personnel control video subsystems dispersed across multiple facilities, and by enabling IP and analogue systems to seamlessly work together. With MAXPRO VMS, security personnel only need to learn a single programme to control the various subsystems, which can include virtual switchers, multiplexers and monitors. MAXPRO VMS - which integrates with several high-profile Honeywell systems such as its Pro-Watch® security management system and Rapid Eye™ and Fusion digital video recorders - displays data to security staff through a customisable graphical user interface. This common user interface gives operators the advantage of a similar look and feel across the disparate video components.

In addition to helping manufacturers integrate their products with MAXPRO VMS, Honeywell will offer software development kits (SDKs) to enable its growing portfolio of IP cameras to integrate with other third-party video management systems (VMS). "Honeywell strongly supports open architecture, and now our open technology alliance formalises our processes and commits additional resources to developing strategic relationships that will bring IP solutions to market faster and drive value for our customers," said Scott Harkins, vice president and general manager of Honeywell's Video Systems business.