IMS Research reports that Milestone is world leader sixth year in a row for open platform IP video management software. In its latest report "The World Market for CCTV and Video Surveillance Equipment - 2010 Edition" IMS Research found that Milestone Systems increased its market share and maintained its top position of the last six years. Milestone holds the leadership standing for the world market category of ‘Open Platform Network Video Management Software'.

"Milestone Systems continued to perform as the leader in the open platform network video management software category on a global scale," states Lars Thinggaard, President & CEO at Milestone Systems. "Milestone maintained a strong cash position and we are very well positioned for continued growth. We have already expanded again in 2010 with the addition of new talent, both in leadership and staff head counts, in support of our international scope."

The IMS report reflects patterns of growth in the surveillance industry that are marked by increasing competition from new entries in low-end software offerings in regional areas - more vendors are included in the video software category than in previous years. Milestone is already addressing this trend with its recently released XProtect Essential product that combines high value advanced surveillance capabilities for up to five concurrent users and 26 cameras, at an aggressively competitive price level. This can be upgraded to a full range of offerings, where XProtect Corporate is the company's high-end software for large, multi-site installations and unlimited number of users, with features for making complex sites easier to manage.

"Despite the challenging economic environment, Milestone continued to grow in 2009; further strengthening its market standing. As the global leading vendor by market share for open platform video management software, Milestone is well positioned to build on its success as market conditions continue to improve," concludes Gary Wong, Research Analyst at IMS Research. "The global analog video surveillance market contracted by more than 5% in 2009, whilst the network video surveillance market grew by more than 18%. The increasing adoption of open standards is expected to further accelerate the migration towards network video surveillance."

Integrated systems account for over 70% of the installations

IMS Research has also released its report ‘The European Market for Security Systems Integration - 2010 Edition', which expands on the above analysis. The report finds that integrated systems will account for over 70% of the total security systems installation and maintenance market in Europe by 2013.

Milestone Systems software provides an open platform with a well-documented Software Development Kit. This continues to attract new Milestone Solution Partners from all over the world: today about 300 partners have integrated the Milestone XProtect IP video platform with such systems as access control, Point-of-Sales, analytics, biometrics, HVAC and building automation, ERP, RFID, production, logistics, and more. IMS Research Analyst Niall Jenkins states: "The energy, infrastructure and efficiency benefits of integrating systems will continue to drive markets together."