By: Deborah Johnson Wood
Garrick Pohl envisions a future when people will wear wireless cameras just so others can observe what their lives are like. It’s a future that, Pohl hopes, will connect people and promote understanding between cultures.
Pohl’s Holland-based tech firm, Crayon Interface, Inc., is bringing that future a bit closer with Echo Mobile—software that connects user-specified networked cameras with the user’s cell phone.
The software is one of several products that use Crayon’s signature Moshi software interface system. Parents can flip open their cell phones and tune in to home cameras to monitor their kids or babysitter. Likewise, business owners can keep an eye on employees, the office, or the store.
“Let's say you own a small shop, and have cameras pointed to the cash register or other locations on the property,” Pohl said. “Without Echo Mobile, the cameras record the video but don't allow you to view events in real time. This software allows you to view it in real time from anywhere in the world.”
Negotiations are underway with four camera makers to create service packages that include Echo Mobile, and the list of interested manufacturers is growing, Pohl said.
“The hardware manufacturers want to provide some sort of service, because the service is reoccurring and they can lock into a reoccurring revenue stream.”
Echo Mobile is available as a downloadable web file. For $5.99 a month, subscriber’s can connect one cell phone to an unlimited number of networked cameras. Additional phones can be connected to those same cameras for another $3.99 a month, each.
The software officially launches on May 15. Until then it’s available free at www.echo-mobile.com where users can connect to Crayon Interface’s office cam, or to their own cameras.
Source: Garrick Pohl, Crayon Interface, Inc. www.crayoninterface.com
Deborah Johnson Wood is Development News Editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Related Articles
Holland high-tech company named in Michigan's 'Top 50'
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.