Three core VMS product releases will be delivered every year in addition to the bi-monthly device pack releases for supporting third-party cameras. The multiple yearly release schedule will ensure that Milestone can rapidly respond to market demands, with a more frequent timetable enabling implementation of new features and enhancements to existing product capabilities within a very short lead time. The Xprotect 2016 release is the largest-ever development effort for Milestone.

Milestone has also created new beta-lab testing for Milestone Solution Partners (MSPs). This gives developers a first look at new integration options, new features in the VMS product suite and the possibility to engage directly with the Milestone development teams. This feedback contributes to further enhance the VMS and MSP integrations.

“We are really excited to put even more focus on our open platform development partners, as we transition our product development to a partner and market-driven process,” says Bjørn Eilertsen, Vice President of Corporate Products at Milestone Systems.

The new release includes many benefits for both users and partners.  For example, improved system performance with hardware decoding which enables use of the latest 4K/UHD camera technology and improves video rendering performance dramatically. An extended system monitor gives real-time overview of system status to enable proactive service. New functions let users move devices between servers for seamless system expansions.

Optimised incident handling via the Rich Smart Wall provides content from alarms, images, bookmarks, maps and more improve incident response time and operational focus. Xprotect 2016 is introducing Push Notification that notifies a remote user of an alarm (including instructions and video). Video can also be pushed from the mobile device’s own camera to Xprotect, to share and document incidents wherever they are.

Milestone XProtect LPR and Xprotect Access (formerly called Xprotect Access Control Module) have been further improved. Xprotect Transact 2016 for retail solutions has been further integrated with the Xprotect Smart Client to make investigation of incidents more efficient.

For partners license handling has been simplified to facilitate faster installation and easier updates. Off-line systems now have far more elasticity in licensing without needing to be online. Smart Connect makes it easy to set up mobile users. The Customer Dashboard online remote system monitoring enables proactive service by Milestone partners to ensure optimum operations, and this has been extended in XProtect 2016 with the ability to document maintenance history and system performance.

“The numerous enhancements to Xprotect 2016 let users harvest all the benefits of an easy-to-use, efficient video system that is able to upgrade for any future needs,” says Janne Jacobsen, Vice President of Professional Products at Milestone Systems.

As one of the first VMS vendors, Milestone is introducing an open ONVIF interface to access cameras and recordings in XProtect VMS and Milestone Husky systems. ONVIF Bridge makes an Xprotect system look like a collection of ONVIF cameras to another VMS. This gives seamless private-to-public video integration, simplifying large-scale, multi-vendor security deployments. The ONVIF Bridge gives a standardised interface for alarm centres and monitoring stations for a unified operator experience across systems. This is another confirmation of the power of true open platform technology.

“We have strengthened our open platform technology and show market leadership with features like the ONVIF Bridge and two-way push in mobile clients. We are demonstrating to our partner community that they are an integral part of the Milestone experience, enabling our mutual customers to freely choose the best hardware, the best applications and the best partners for their needs,” says Bjørn Eilertsen, Vice President of Corporate Products at Milestone Systems.