Milestone Drops Hikvision as Elite Partner

Milestone has quietly dropped Hikvision from their 'Elite Partners', less than three years after adding the Chinese government-owned mega-manufacturer.

Milestone has quietly dropped Hikvision from their 'Elite Partners', less than three years after adding the Chinese government-owned mega-manufacturer. This comes amidst rising criticisms of Hikvision, from mainstream global media and U.S. and U.K. elected officials.

“We can confirm that as of December 13, 2018, HikVision is no longer a Milestone Elite Camera Partner,” said Bjørn Skou Eilertsen, Milestone’s CTO. “To be named a Milestone Elite partner, companies must demonstrate outstanding sales, implementation, consulting and support for Milestone Systems solutions and consistently show excellence in business initiatives and marketing. The engagement between the companies did not achieve this. Therefore, the ongoing relationship between HikVision and Milestone Systems will continue to operate at a non-elite level.”

Industry blogger and IPVM founder John Honovich asked what impact Hikvision’s cybersecurity issues and the Chinese government control had on removing them from the Elite Partner page.

“The business engagement is thoroughly evaluated annually, we don’t comment on specific criteria. We are of course aware of the criticism of HikVision and we are following the developments.”

Hikvision's devices are still supported by Milestone, with the same license and same pricing, however, without the advantages of being an Elite Partner. Companies enjoying Elite Partner status include Axis, Bosch, Hanwha, Panasonic and Sony.

Elite Partner Advantages

  • Dedicated Partner Manager to coordinate integration activities.
  • Prioritized driver development & test execution.
  • Option to have dedicated drivers developed by Milestone using the partner camera API.
  • Prioritized and first to be invited for various Milestone Marketing activities and events.

Contrast With Genetec Expelling

Milestone's move is not as extreme as Genetec. While both companies have deprioritized developing and supporting Hikvision's products, Genetec requires a special increased license fee and a special waiver that make Hikvision products effectively “devices non grata.” By contrast, Milestone is putting Hikvision on the same level as smaller camera manufacturers. This, of course, is atypical given the size of Hikvision as a camera manufacturer.

Featured

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.