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Defining network technology

Axis Communications leads the way in network technology.

Axis Communications’ vision was born out of a challenge to develop a high-quality camera that could easily be connected to the network. That was over 15 years ago when the first shift from analogue to network video produced the world’s first network camera – the AXIS 200.

In just 15 years, Axis Communications has built and cemented its position as the market leader in network cameras with significant investment into research and development (R&D) to push the boundaries on surveillance technology and its application.

Roy Alves, country manager for Axis Communications South Africa says: “Network camera technology has advanced so much over the last 15 years, with IP camera frame rate increasing 1 frame per second in 0.1 MPix to 30 fps in HDTV 1080 resolution – a 600 times performance increase. It is a bit like going from a black and white TV screen to a full colour HD flat screen.

Roy Alves, country manager for Axis Communications

“But more than the wow factor of fancy pixels and brilliant clarity, today’s technology has more intelligence and more capability we can leverage for shopping mall and factory security, banking mall monitoring, improvement of processes in mining and protecting business, schools and homes.”

Investment in R&D

More than 350 engineers work to develop the technology platforms and products of the future. The products are based on open systems, which means that they may be easily integrated into other security solutions and that software from partners may be added. This is how Axis remains at the technical leading edge – in terms of image quality, image analysis and network security.

It is also the way that Axis is constantly adding to its product range as technologies evolve and improve. The company’s patent portfolio now contains 71 active patents and registered design families.

Industry leading products

Axis can boast the world’s smallest ceiling mount pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) dome cameras, the AXIS M50 PTZ Dome Network Camera Series. The series offers business managers a discreet and affordable solution for remotely monitoring indoor areas such as banks, hotels, office lobbies, restaurants and warehouses.

Says Alves: “AXIS M50 cameras are affordably priced mini PTZ domes that give the big picture. It brings the flexibility and benefits of a PTZ camera, and Axis’ design and quality hallmarks, down to a price level that is now affordable for many small retailers and offices. Store owners sitting at a remote location will have the flexibility to pan, tilt and zoom the camera to gain a 360° view. It is perfect for getting an overview of a store, for checking if shelves are stocked and items are properly promoted, and for getting customer behaviour information needed to increase sales, improve service and retain shoppers. If the store layout changes, the camera’s view can be changed without having to relocate the camera. And as with any surveillance camera, AXIS M50 can also help in an event investigation.”

Another addition to the company’s product portfolio is the top-of-the-line AXIS Q6035/-E PTZ Dome Camera that features HDTV 1080 with 20x optical zoom for the ultimate in video quality and performance. It also supports 50/60 frames per second in HDTV 720p enabling the capturing of quick movements.

Leading open standards

Axis prides itself on being a founding member of the Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF), which ensures that its products remain relevant. ONVIF is the global and open industry forum that facilitates the development and use of a global open standard for the interface of physical IP-based security products. Its function is to create standards for IP products within video surveillance and other physical security areas ensuring these technologies can communicate with each other.

Axis launched the Axis Communications’ Academy in 2004 as an investment in its partners and their education in new technologies. Since its inception more than 20 000 people have been trained using classroom and Web-based models. And the range of education curricula has boosted reseller and partner competence and confidence about the company’s products and network delivering strong year on year growth in South Africa.

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