We haven’t seen much in the way of major innovation when it comes to surveillance cameras, with Dropcam and Foscam pretty well dominating the space in recent years. Today, we’re seeing something new from Panasonic with its Nubo monitoring camera, which features 4G connectivity and a waterproof design. They proudly proclaim that this is the “world’s first” camera design to lean on a cellular connection instead of WiFi.
It’s chock full of features, head below for full details, pricing and availability.
Panasonic appears to have held nothing back when it comes to the Nubo, lacing the new camera system full of features that should make surveillance monitoring easier than ever before. Standout features of the Nubo include an IP-66 weatherproof design for -4 to 122 degrees fahrenheit temperatures with a speaker and microphone built-in for two way communication and a full 1080p 140 degree viewing angle camera. It has a magnetic mount built-in and radio connections for ZigBee and Bluetooth, meaning that it will play nice with WeMo and SmartThings systems. The Nubo can be powered by traditional wall plug-ins or via an external USB battery pack, like you’d use for an iPhone.
On the software side of the things, the Nubo communicates with users via a Nubo-specific app or the Panasonic Cameramanager app on iOS and Android. The video will record in 5, 10, 30 or 60 second clips depending on your preferences and data plan, storing on the cloud for seven days. Users will also be able to put microSDXC storage into the Nubo for private recording, although the cloud service does offer SSL and password encryption.
It will be very interesting to see how this product is received once it is released. ZigBee and Bluetooth compatibility means that it will merge right in with many existing home automation systems, allow the camera to be triggered by sensors that are already installed. Additionally, mounting possibilities seem fairly endless, especially outdoors which has plagued some surveillance cameras in the past. Perhaps the biggest hurdle at this time is finding a cellular partner in the United States, only Vodafone has stepped forward in Europe at this time. The Nubo from Panasonic will retail for $249 and will include a SIM card, it is set to ship in Europe during Q4 and in the United States early next year.
[9to5-press-release]
PANASONIC LAUNCHES NUBO, THE INDUSTRY’S FIRST CONNECTED 4G MONITORING CAMERA
Panasonic Cameramanager, a leading provider of Video Surveillance as-a-Service (VSaaS) in Europe, today introduced Nubo, the world’s first 4G-enabled monitoring camera, to allow consumers to monitor property and belongings without needing Wi-Fi connectivity. Attendees at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona can experience the camera at the Panasonic Booth (#6H31) during show hours.
In the past, consumers had to choose between a fixed Wi-Fi home monitoring product, a fixed professional surveillance or a mobile video recording product, ultimately sacrificing mobility, connectivity or security. To solve this problem, Panasonic Cameramanager is launching Nubo, a new standalone camera that allows users to have all the benefits of a mobile security camera, with the advantage of 4G connectivity. Designed for both indoor and outdoor usage, Nubo is weather resistant and offers sensor connectivity through an integrated wireless radio. Additional sensor controls enable the detection of human figures, enabling more tailored alerts and alarms for the user. Nubo also offers two-way communication, allowing the user to communicate through the camera when an alert is triggered.
Nubo is the first true mobile monitoring camera delivering 4G connectivity, providing users the ultimate flexibility. It is the perfect solution when you want to make sure your family, property and belongings are safe, without requiring a Wi-Fi connection. With Nubo, users can spend their time living in the moment, instead of worrying if their valuable assets are protected.
“Consumers have long had to compromise on mobility and connectivity when it came to their surveillance needs, bound either by location or connectivity,” said Tijmen Vos, CTO of Panasonic Cameramanager and product evangelist of Panasonic Nubo. “Our vision is to deliver a product that allows users the freedom and flexibility of choosing where the camera can be used and the confidence in knowing that the data created is securely transmitted and stored. With the introduction of Nubo, we’re putting the control of safety and surveillance into the user’s hands.”
Nubo offers a complete platform for the user, with a ready-to-go camera, a mobile data plan, a mobile app for controls and alerts, external battery pack and add-on options, and a secure cloud storage offering, enabling seamless management of data and videos for the user. Nubo’s cloud storage system is built on technology developed by Panasonic Cameramanager, acquired by Panasonic in 2013, which has delivered bank-level security to the enterprise for more than a decade. With the Panasonic cloud storage system, users can be confident that the data created with Nubo is safely secured in Panasonic’s own cloud storage system and can be seamlessly managed through the mobile app on either an iOS or Android smartphone and tablet.
To establish network capacity at launch, Panasonic Nubo is in conversations with world-leading wireless carriers. Vodafone will be the first partner to provide Nubo with 4G Machine-to-Machine (M2M) network connectivity in Europe. The integration of camera, app, storage and data ensures a turnkey solution for users.
Product features:
- Mobile network support (GPRS/2G/3G/4G): Nubo will offer connectivity with leading wireless carriers, with the Vodafone being the first partner to launch with in Europe
- Outdoor ready (IP-66): Nubo is weather resistant and can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments
- Smart human detection: Nubo’s advanced video analytics make it easy to know when a person enters your protected space, triggering alerts to the mobile app
- Sensor connectivity and home automation: Nubo’s wireless radio technology allows it to communicate with external sensors, such as door or motion sensors.
- Battery power: Nubo can be connected to an external battery, allowing for temporary use in places without a power connection
The launch of Nubo is part of a larger initiative from Panasonic Europe, which will also be announcing today its intent to become the first major electronics manufacturer to launch its own Mobile Virtual Network in Europe, allowing its business devices to connect seamlessly with the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) cloud. The first trials of the new network will be demonstrated today at a press conference during Mobile World Congress 2015, in Barcelona, Spain, where Nubo is also being announced.
Panasonic Europe will begin to integrate mobile connectivity across product lines, allowing them to access new Panasonic M2M cloud services. These could include remote monitoring, data collection and analysis – driving efficiency and reliability. The first product to utilize the M2M network is the Panasonic Nubo.
Panasonic Nubo is available for pre-orders in the U.K., the Netherlands and the United States beginning of April 2015. Product is expected to ship in Q4 2015 for the U.K. and the Netherlands and in the U.S. in Q1 2016. For more information, please visit www.nubocam.com.
[/9to5-press-release]
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