Linksys announces wireless internet video camera with pan/tilt/zoom capabilities for small businesses

The new PTZ Internet Camera, part of the Linksys Business Series of products, can send live video and audio through the Internet to be seen and heard through a web browser anywhere in the world making for simple access for mobile workers or remote users.

Unlike standard "web cams" requiring an attached PC, the PTZ Internet Camera contains its own IP address, so businesses can easily connect it to an existing Ethernet or Wireless network. The WVC200 comes equipped with a LCD screen on the front of the camera that displays the IP address so multiple cameras can be easily managed.

"We've designed a camera that provides small businesses the tool they need to monitor their office during businesses hours or while they are away," said Mohammad Hoda, Regional Manager for Linksys in the Middle East and Africa.

"The camera can be accessed over the internet, enabling the office to be remotely monitored. Users can be alerted by email or phone when unexpected movement has occurred after hours, eliminating the need to actively monitor the camera. It's an ideal solution for providing peace of mind at the price small business budgets can afford."

Remote Controlled Viewing

The WVC200 images can be password protected or can be left open for the world to see. Support for Dynamic DNS enables access to the camera by using an easy-to-remember URL "name", even if the business is using a dynamic IP address.

The Pan/Tilt and 2X digital zoom function allows for remote control of the camera's movement and focus remotely. Up to 10 simultaneous users can have access to the camera at any point in time. Software is included for multiple camera monitoring, and recording to a hard drive with advanced search by time and date. Recording can be set up to record by motion trigger, manual or schedule recording and playback on Windows Media Player without the need for a proprietary player.

Advanced Video Features

The advanced MPEG-4 video compression produces a high-quality, high-frame rate, 640x480 video stream. MPEG-4 encoding facilitates good video quality in varying bandwidth environments. The WVC200 also supports MJPEG compression for video, providing good video quality at high bandwidth rates.

The comprehensive video features include an Infrared (IR) cut filter which allows you to see the images in low or no light environments when an external IR lamp is used. Snapshots (in JPEG format) of the image can be taken and saved. Snapshots can also be scheduled and sent to an FTP server.

Security for Peace of Mind

Advanced features of the PTZ Internet Camera include a Security mode. When the camera detects motion, it begins to record the video and audio feed and simultaneously sends an e-mail alert to the office, a pager or a cell phone. Up to four e-mail alerts can be sent, including a short video clip in an email attachment. Users can then log onto the live video stream if the situation warrants. Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) security features include WEP and WPA encryption.