LAS VEGAS – Looking to build upon the success of its Camera Companion video management software, Axis Communications on Wednesday at ISC West officially launched the AXIS Companion Line, a new series of video hardware products developed with the needs of small businesses in mind. The line features the AXIS Companion Recorder, an 8-channel NVR available in both a 2-terabyte and 4-terabyte model, as well as several new camera models including the AXIS Companion Dome V and AXIS Companion Eye L/LVE network cameras.
According to Goran Haraldsson, product manager for video management systems at Axis, the goal of the Companion Line was to develop a comprehensive solution around their Camera Companion software.
“We were relying on third-party components to build a complete system and that has been challenging, not only for us but for our partners,” said Haraldsson. “If you look at the Companion solution, now we have the Companion line with some dedicated cameras but with the Companion software we continue to work with the full portfolio of Axis products, so if for any reason you need a 360-degree camera or a pan/tilt/zoom camera, you can take it from the Axis’ portfolio and add it to the system. You’re not limited to the Companion cameras only.”
Axis, which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of the security industry’s first IP camera – the AXIS Neteye 200 – has traditionally focused much of its efforts on developing solutions tailored to the mid-sized and enterprise video markets. In fact, according to Axis Co-Founder Martin Gren, the first deployments of the Neteye 200 were for enterprise-type applications including monitoring a chemical manufacturing facility and on oil platforms to provide early detection of oil spills.
“Life was easy back then. If someone wanted an IP camera, there was just one option,” said Fredrik Nilsson, general manager, Axis Communications.
As the years have gone by, however, Nilsson said the proliferation of network cameras has made the task of matching the right product to the right application an increasingly difficult one.
“The challenge that you have if you’re an end user or an integrator and you walk around the tradeshow floor here at ISC West, how do you choose the solution that is just right for you?” asked Nilsson
The fact is that end users all have very different needs depending on their size – small, medium or enterprise – and the vertical market within which they operate. For small businesses who already have limited knowledge of surveillance technology and face tighter budget constraints than their counterparts, these challenges are magnified.
For this and other reasons, Gren said the products in the Companion line not only needed to have an affordable price tag but that the number of products also had to be intentionally limited in order to make choices easier for customers.
“We really needed to offer a complete solution that solves their problems for them that is easy to use, easy to buy and easy to install,” added Gren.
Nilsson was emphatic, however, that the rollout of the Companion Line in no way signals that Axis is going to engage in any kind of pricing wars.
“We will never sell on price. That’s not the way we do business,” said Nilsson. “We have to get close enough to where it adds value and quality because a lot of the cost when it comes to the installation is the actual installation on the site and if you can cut that cost out of it for the installer… we think customers would be willing to spend a little bit more than the absolutely lowest price solution.”
Solutions for Mid-Sized Applications
In addition to the rollout of the Companion line, Axis also unveiled several new products for their mid-sized and enterprise clients. Among the company’s newest offerings for medium-sized businesses include AXIS Camera Station 5 and the new AXIS Site Designer.
AXIS Camera Station 5, the latest version of the company’s video management software for mid-sized installations introduces hardware decoding, with support for third-party IP cameras and Axis Optimized Rendering for high-definition identification and smooth videos with resolutions up to three 4K video streams. A new mobile viewing app allows for easy remote monitoring.
AXIS Design Studio is specifically designed for use by independent consultants to design complex, enterprise systems leveraging existing design software. System integrators and installers can leverage AXIS Site Designer to design security solutions for small and mid-sized systems.
Solutions for Enterprise-Class Users
Following up on the release of their first multi-sensor camera at last year’s ISC West show, Axis on Wednesday introduced two new multi-sensor panoramic cameras. The 8-megapixel AXIS P3707-PE, with four varifocal camera heads, enables 360-degree coverage or a combination of overview and zoomed-in views in four different directions. The 15-megapixel AXIS Q3708-PVE features three image sensors for a 180-degree surveillance and has Wide Dynamic Range - Forensic Capture technology and low light capabilities.
To provide enterprise customers with the type of advanced intelligence today’s discerning end users are looking for, Axis announced the launch of its new Perimeter Defender solution, which is a video analytics application for intrusion detection. When combined with Axis network cameras, Axis network horn speakers and third-party video management software, the application forms a comprehensive, video-based solution for effective perimeter surveillance and protection.
