Bosch Security Systems and Sony have announced that they have entered into a partnership that will result in an unprecedented level of cooperation between the two companies’ video surveillance business units. Not only will the collaboration result in a combination of the companies’ respective technologies, but Bosch will be taking over the sales and marketing of Sony-branded products in every market with the exception of Japan.
Company officials stopped short of calling the agreement a “merger” of their video operations despite the fact that the partnership is subject to approval by antitrust authorities. “From a technology perspective, the companies will be working together but Sony will continue to manufacture the Sony products,” says Bosch spokesperson Anne Insero. “The sales and marketing employees will be transferring from Sony to Bosch, so Bosch will be selling the Sony branded products as part of that.”
Sony’s video security customers will be served and supported by a dedicated sales and marketing team within Bosch, offering customer support, after-sales service and training in different languages in over 50 countries worldwide. “The global Bosch Security Systems organization will support the dedicated sales and marketing team responsible for Sony-branded products as well as Sony’s customers to grow the business by excellent support and service,” Bosch Security Systems President Gert van Iperen said in a statement.
Under the partnership, which will become effective at the beginning of 2017, the companies will combine their respective strengths in video surveillance to deliver solutions that deliver optimum image quality in all lighting conditions, as well as superior video analytics and bitrate performance.
“Sony certainly has its strengths… and offers some unique imaging technologies, such as high resolution solutions like 4K and also superb light sensitivity, while Bosch brings to the table technologies that it has been working on with video analytics at the edge and technology that it offers to make bitrate management efficient,” Insero says. “The organizations will work more closely together now, so (Bosch) will have the ability to exchange (ideas) with the development department of Sony concerning their technology.”
“This partnership will revolutionize the video security industry since it combines the unique technological expertise and strengths of two leading companies in the field of video security applications,” Toru Katsumoto, Deputy President of Imaging Products and Solutions, Sector President of Professional Products Group, Sony, said in the statement.
