With the escalation of insecurity in businesses and homes, technology becomes the next door solution to curb it. Sicom Technology Limited has therefore launched a video over mobile Phone Surveillance device known as Iris Camera.

The first of its kind in the region, the device is a network independent, wireless stand –alone camera that sends live video to a mobile handset. With a capital injection of over US$ 1.3M into the investment, the company expects to launch the device in the greater East African region next year.
Successfully launched in number of countries like South Africa, the Iris surveillance video camera uses an integrated standard GPRS SIM and does not necessarily need a 3G phone making it available to regulator 2.5G GPRS handset users.

Besides the security function, the camera also offers applications in the entertainment market such as multimedia content .For instance, live entertainment, live sports, Live newsfeeds and live travel information to be viewed on the IRIS viewing software. It also allows the viewing video from a number of other video inputs including broadband cameras, CCTV, prerecorded clips and live TV feeds.

Anthony Maina, ICT Director, Sicom Technologies commented: “Iris will transmit live or recorded footage to your mobile over a standard mobile phone network .When you want to access remote monitoring of your camera, you just use the Iris viewing software on your mobile phone, to connect to your camera via the Iris Control Centre”.In alarm mode, the camera is continually monitoring for movement through its infrared and motion sensors. If movement is detected, the camera will automatically upload video of the event to a secure server. The user is then alerted of the activation via SMS and can view the recording on their mobile phone and take the appropriate action. Subscribers to the service will be paying a subscription fee of Sh.25, 000 (US$ 330)to  get the camera, power supply and SIM card. The user will then pay a monthly fee of sh.2, 000 (US$ 27)and buy data bundles worth a minimum of US$1.2.

“The Kenyan market promises great potential for this product, “said Iris CEO Paul Rogerson.”We plan to expand our core domestic security proposition into video applications related to transport, higher speed networks such as 3G or 4G and related “peace of mind “areas such as remote telecare.”

The camera is expected to be of help to home owners, businesses, security firms-who can seamlessly  offer 24/7 security surveillance to their clients  as well as content owners who can develop their brand through live video and provide advertising /direct marketing to consumers and teenagers for entertainment purposes.

“Another exciting opportunity is the use of the IRIS platform to advance social networking and blogging for which the cameras can provide live personalized content, secure video, blogging, and the monetization of social networking, target advertising and more”, said Rogerson.