Axis Communications

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Axis Communications AB
Type Public
Traded as OMX: AXIS
Industry Video surveillance
Physical security
Research and development
Computer hardware
Founded 1984
Headquarters Lund, Sweden
Area served Worldwide
Key people Founders
Mikael Karlsson
Martin Gren
President & CEO
Ray Mauritsson
VP & CFO
Fredrik Sjöstrand
CTO
Johan Paulsson
CIO
Jonas Hansson
Products Network cameras
Network video encoders
Print servers
Revenue increase SEK 2 933 million (2010)[1]
Operating income increase SEK 415 million (2010)[1]
Employees 1000+[2]
Website www.axis.com

Axis Communications AB (OMX: AXIS) is a Swedish manufacturer of network cameras for the physical security and video surveillance industries.[3][4] It focuses on the vertical market segments transport, infrastructure, retail, banking, education, government and industrial.[5][6][7]

Axis Communications originally started out as an IT company selling print servers.[5][8][9] It then applied its knowledge in networks and embedded computing to develop network cameras for the security industry.[10] Most of its products contain an embedded computer with some flash memory and run a custom version of Linux.[11] One of its major breakthroughs in technology was the development of JFFS, which extended the lifetime of the devices' flash memory.[12][13]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Origins

Axis Communications was founded in 1984 by Martin Gren and Mikael Karlsson in Lund, Sweden.[14] The company developed and sold protocol converters and printer interfaces for the connection of PC printers in IBM mainframe and mini-computer environments.[15][16][17] By the end of the 1980s, Axis Communications had opened its first U.S. sales office in Boston, Massachusetts and in the early 1990s started shifting its focus away from IBM mainframes towards networking and the TCP/IP protocol.[16][18]

[edit] Expansion

In 1991, Axis Communications introduced a multi-protocol print server supporting both TCP/IP and NetWare.[9][19] In 1995, the company introduced a file server independent, multi-protocol CD-ROM server, supporting TCP/IP (NFS) and Windows (SMB), for Ethernet networks, the AXIS 850.[19][20] Also by 1995, Axis Communications had opened sales offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, Japan.[19]

[edit] Focus on network cameras

In 1996, Axis Communications introduced the industry's first network camera, the AXIS 200.[5][8][21][22][23][24] This was followed in 1999 by the AXIS 2100 which was the first volume product using an embedded Linux.[19] In 2004, the company introduced the AXIS 206, the then smallest network camera.[19][25]

[edit] Founding of industry standards body

In 2008, Axis Communications announced together with Bosch and Sony that the companies will cooperate in order to standardize the interface of network video products and form a new industry standards body called ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum).[26][27][28][29] Axis Communications introduced its first product with ONVIF support in 2009, the AXIS P3301.[30][31] There are now over 600 ONVIF conformant products available.[32][33]

[edit] Today

Axis Communications operates offices in more than 20 countries and employs over 1000 people.[2][4][34] According to a 2009 report by industry analyst house IMS Research, Axis Communications is the global market leader in the network video market with a market share of 31.2%.[35][36][37][38] Installations include the City of Houston[39], Sydney Airport[40], Moscow Metro[41] and Madrid Buses[42].

[edit] Technology

[edit] Network cameras

Axis Communications develops and sells network cameras for many applications. The products include PTZ[43], vandal resistant[44], outdoor,[45], wireless[46], motion detection[47], progressive scan[48], HDTV[49], thermal cameras[50]. The company introduced the industry′s first thermal network camera, the AXIS Q1910, in January 2010[51] and the industry′s first HDTV network camera, the AXIS Q1755, in December 2008.[52][53]

An old Axis 2100 network camera

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "2010 Annual Report, Axis Communications AB." Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  2. ^ a b GIT Security. "Axis Half-year report 2011." Jul 12, 2011. Retrieved Aug 25, 2011.
  3. ^ Silicon India. "Axis Communications aggressive to tap Indian market." Jul 23, 2009. Retrieved Aug 17, 2011.
  4. ^ a b NASDAQ OMX Nordic. "Company Profile." Retrieved 2011-03-14.
  5. ^ a b c John Adams, Security Electronics and Networks. "Axis Communications: Success Sells." Apr 14, 2011. Retrieved Jun 28, 2011.
  6. ^ Trade Arabia. "Axis Communications to take part in Intersec." Jan 12, 2011. Retrieved Sep 12, 2011.
  7. ^ GIT Security. "Axis Communications: A Strong Year." Feb 3, 2011. Retrieved Aug 17, 2011.
  8. ^ a b GIT Security. "The Development of Video Technology over the Last 20 Years." Jun 30, 2011. Retrieved Aug 25, 2011.
  9. ^ a b Caryn Gillooly, Network World. "Print server market heats up with new, less costly products." Dec 13, 1993. Retrieved Sep 20, 2011.
  10. ^ Isaac Leung, Electronics News. "Surveillance: a mixing pot of technologies." Jun 20, 2011. Retrieved Jun 28, 2011.
  11. ^ Jan Bosch. "Design and Use of Software Architectures: Adopting and Evolving a Product-line Approach." New York, NY: Pearson Education, 2000. ISBN 0-20-167494-7. pp 176-180.
  12. ^ David Woodhouse, Red Hat, Inc.. "JFFS : The Journalling Flash File System." Retrieved Aug 12, 2011.
  13. ^ Karim Yaghmour. "Building Embedded Linux Systems." Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly Media, 2003. ISBN 0-59-652968-6. p 90.
  14. ^ Diane Ritchey, Security Magazine. "Security’s 25 Most Influential." December 1, 2006. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  15. ^ Leonor Barroca, Jon Hall, Patrick Hall. "Software Architectures: Advances and Applications." New York, NY: Springer, 1999. ISBN 1-85-233636-6. p 161. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  16. ^ a b Security Solutions. "Axis celebrates 25 years in the network business." November 1, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  17. ^ Computerworld. "Protocol Converters." Sep 11, 1989. Retrieved Sep 20, 2011.
  18. ^ "Axis Communications 25 Years Anniversary." Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  19. ^ a b c d e "Milestones in the history of Axis Communications." Retrieved 2011-03-10.
  20. ^ George Stonehouse, David Campbell, Jim Hamill, Tony Purdie, "Global and Transnational Business: Strategy and Management." Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, 2004. ISBN 0-47-085126-0. p 333.
  21. ^ Brian Contos, William Crowell, Colby Derodeff, Dan Dunkel. "Physical and Logical Security Convergence: Powered By Enterprise Security Management." Waltham, MA: Syngress, 2007. ISBN 1-59-749122-5. p 66. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  22. ^ Sherleen Mahoney, Security Products. "Axis Celebrates 15 Years of Network Cameras." Apr 6, 2011. Retrieved Jun 28, 2011.
  23. ^ Dan Seoane, InfoWorld. "The Eyes have it: Microplex, Axis offer unique views." Nov 4, 1996. Retrieved Sep 20, 2011.
  24. ^ Mary Brandel, CSO. "A Buyer’s Guide to Network Cameras." Mar 1, 2008. Retrieved Sep 19, 2011.
  25. ^ Dave Mitchell, PC Pro. "Axis 206W Wireless Network Camera review." 2004-11-03. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
  26. ^ Open Network Video Interface Forum. "Axis, Bosch and Sony cooperate to standardize the interface of network video products." 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
  27. ^ Security Products. "Axis, Bosch, Sony Cooperate To Standardize Network Video Product Interface." 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  28. ^ GIT Security. "ONVIF Compliance Is Not Enough to Integrate High End Camera Functionalities." Jul 11, 2011. Retrieved Aug 25, 2011.
  29. ^ Geoff Kohl, IP Security Watch. "Axis, Bosch, Sony launch Open Network Video Interface Forum." Jan 12, 2011. Retrieved Sep 6, 2011.
  30. ^ SourceSecurity. "Axis Communications announces its first network video camera with ONVIF support." 2009-10-20. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  31. ^ Info4Security. "Axis strengthens its network video systems." Oct 29, 2009. Retrieved Aug 3, 2011.
  32. ^ GIT Security. "Over 600 ONVIF Conformant Products available now." Jan 25, 2011. Retrieved Jun 28, 2011.
  33. ^ Euro Security. "ONVIF Conformant Products Reach 600, Doubled In Just 3 Months." February 14, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  34. ^ Lynne Nolan, Arabian Business. "Axis turns to new global markets." July 9, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  35. ^ IMS Research analyst report. The World Market for CCTV and Video Surveillance Equipment 2009 Edition. Published August 2009.
  36. ^ Ling-Mei Wong, A&S Mag. "2010 Market Review: Market Dynamics Pick Up the Pace." Dec 11, 2010. Retrieved Sep 6, 2011.
  37. ^ IP Security Watch. "Axis Communications' network cameras increase market share." Jan 12, 2011. Retrieved Sep 6, 2011.
  38. ^ Mitch Vine, SeekingAlpha. "Security Stocks We Like and Why: Axis Communications." June 27, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  39. ^ Glenn Bischoff, Urgent Communications. "Houston deploys fixed video surveillance system." September 22, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  40. ^ Source Security. "Sydney Airport takes security to new heights with Axis." Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  41. ^ Drew Wilson, EETimes. "Contract wins bring security tech firm to Moscow." June 23, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  42. ^ Security Electronics and Networks. "Axis cameras to secure Madrid's buses." April 12, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  43. ^ CSO. "Product Watch: Pan, Zoom and Tilt." April 15, 2005. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  44. ^ Tracy Ting, Global Security Web. "Safeguarding Harsh Environments with Vandal-Proof Cameras." September 25, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  45. ^ Euro Security. "Outdoor-ready HDTV PTZ domes strengthen Axis’ camera offerings." May 19, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  46. ^ Info4Security. "Axis launches new wireless camera." July 23, 2007. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  47. ^ Fire & Security Alert Magazine. "Axis Communications’ new IP surveillance system allows Freightliner to quickly search and access vital footage." December 16, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  48. ^ Professional Security Installer. "Axis Communications releases small network dome camera." March 12, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  49. ^ John Adams, Security Electronics and Networks. "AXIS M1054 & M5014 720p HD Cameras." August 29, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  50. ^ Euro Security. "Axis - Two more thermal network cameras presented." October 1, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  51. ^ Dave Mitchell, PC Pro. "Axis Q1910 Thermal Network Camera review." April 6, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  52. ^ Dave Mitchell, PC Pro. "Axis Q1755 review." August 10, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  53. ^ Darren Murph, Engadged. "Axis unveils its first HDTV network camera." December 5, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2011.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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