 | Help Pages
Pages full of helpfull hints and tips from some manufactures in our pages |
| The Benefits of IP Video Surveillance
All of Milestone's software products for controlling video surveillance hardware are based on the TCP/IP network protocol, which enables you to build your own video surveillance system using standard video and computer hardware. This reduces maintenance costs, eases the amount of work for you, and protects your business environment. Milestone software supplies the basis for highly efficient operations of video monitoring and analysis, also opening up a wide spectrum of opportunities for integrating with other business applications in a company’s IT environment.
On old VCR systems (analog), surveillance staff would have to change tapes frequently, and over time, the VCR heads got dirty and distorted the images. Digital search and retrieval functions are much faster with just a click of the mouse. The images are clearer, too, making it easier to review the recordings. You can still benefit from the advantages of Milestone XProtect™ solutions if you have a traditional analog video surveillance system, however. Our digital IP products also operate with most analog video setups.
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| The Concept behind IP Video Surveillance
All of Milestone's software products for controlling video surveillance hardware are based on the TCP/IP network protocol, which enables you to build your own video surveillance system using standard video and computer hardware. This reduces maintenance costs, eases the amount of work for you, and protects your business environment. Milestone software supplies the basis for highly efficient operations of video monitoring and analysis, also opening up a wide spectrum of opportunities for integrating with other business applications in a company’s IT environment.
On old VCR systems (analog), surveillance staff would have to change tapes frequently, and over time, the VCR heads got dirty and distorted the images. Digital search and retrieval functions are much faster with just a click of the mouse. The images are clearer, too, making it easier to review the recordings. You can still benefit from the advantages of Milestone XProtect™ solutions if you have a traditional analog video surveillance system, however. Our digital IP products also operate with most analog video setups. (For more information see the XProtect™ Q&A).
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| Product Maintenance Agreement
Milestone Systems offers as the cornerstone of its support to customers a Product Maintenance Agreement (PMA). If you already have a PMA and have questions about upgrading to a new version or product, please go to PMA Upgrade.
What is a PMA?
The PMA provides an easy way for customers to protect their investment in Milestone surveillance solutions and to control the future cost of ownership.
Why get a PMA?
By purchasing a PMA for a Milestone product, the customer ensures that their video surveillance solution is always kept up to date with the newest available release of the software - without having to worry about any extra upgrading cost. It is in the nature of the best software that it continues to be developed and improved in response to customer needs and new technological advances. It is in the interest of the customer to take advantage of this development in the most cost-effective way.
What does a PMA include?
During the year covered by the PMA, customers are entitled to receive all generally-released new versions of their Milestone software, including both interim and major releases, changes, service packs and patches for the product.
How does a PMA work?
When buying an XProtect™ product license, the customer can choose to buy a PMA at the same time. Under the PMA, all upgrades are completely free of charge for one year. The software upgrades are delivered to the customer electronically throughout the year.
How long does it last?
The PMA covers one year from purchase. Prior to its expiration, your Milestone partner will be automatically sent emails to remind you about renewal. When upgrading to a new version of the product, the original PMA renewal date remains the same, i.e. the PMA renewal for the new product in most cases will occur in less than one year (being based on the PMA start date of your original product purchase).
What does it cost?
To purchase the PMA initially, it is offered together with the product at an additional cost of approximately 18% of the product’s Recommended Retail Price (RRP).
How is it purchased?
With new purchase: The PMA is only available as part of a new product purchase and not as an add-on to a product that has been purchased previously.
When Upgrading: A customer can trade in a Milestone product (previously purchased without a PMA) at a value of 50% of its Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), to upgrade to a newer version of XProtect™, and purchase a PMA at that time. It is also makes an upgrade to later releases of the software (more camera licenses) less expensive. When upgrading, the PMA gives you a 100% return on your original investment (the upgrade discount equals the current MSRP + 1 year PMA cost).
Measurable savings with a PMA
Milestone guarantees that new product releases are made 1 or 2 times a year. With one product upgrade (for example, an upgrade of XProtect™ Enterprise version 6.0 to 6.1) the cost is only 18% of the new product version’s list price. This means that buying a one-year PMA is cheaper than buying one upgrade – and when there’s more than one upgrade a year, you’ve saved TWICE as much! Standard upgrade costs are normally 50% of a product’s RRP, whereas it would never be more than 18% of the RRP when you have a PMA.
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