Boom expected in do-it-yourself surveillance market 

The consumer/DIY (do-it-yourself) video surveillance market is expected to see tremendous growth over the next several years, according to a recent research report. The report, issued by MultiMedia Intelligence, states that the market is expected to reach $1 billion by 2012.

Among the factors cited for the increase include, an increase in the availability of camera kits in retail outlets, the emergence of new, consumer-level IP surveillance cameras, a growing base of video-capable home networks, broadband service providers seeking to add new services, and declining technology costs.

"Both home networking and video surveillance are dynamic and growing markets. The new consumer/DIY IP surveillance camera market bridges these two segments to create yet another promising opportunity," said Mark Kirstein, president of MultiMedia Intelligence and author of the report.

Another report issued last month by Multimedia Intelligence stated that the worldwide market for IP and networked video surveillance grew by 48 percent in 2007. Kirstein noted in that report, however, that although the move to IP video was "revolutionary", it was also "over-hyped" and "under-performing" compared to many expectations.

Analysts say that as a whole, the demand for security systems in the United States is expected to rise by an average of 7.8 percent per year to $15.6 billion in 2012. Those numbers come from a report this week by The Freedonia Group.

More information:An abstract and table of contents for MultiMedia Intelligence's report on the DIY surveillance market is available for download in PDF format.