The company first made its mark in the print server industry. Today the company is the world's third largest vendor of network print servers, according to IDC. Axis is also the only company that offers thin server-based solutions for network cameras, scanners and storage devices. The company boasts an installed base of more than 500,000 products, ranging from small offices to medium-sized organizations and Fortune 500 companies such as Alcatel NA Cable Systems Inc., Ford Motor Company, Microsoft Corp., NASA and PepsiCo Inc. Axis also has technology partnerships with companies like Epson, Ricoh, Canon, Ericsson, Sun and Novell.
Headquartered in Lund, Sweden with offices throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, Axis Communications employs more than 350 people. The company's products are sold in more than 60 countries through both direct channels and a network of distributors, value-added resellers (VARs), and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Axis Communications Vision and Technology
The company's products are based on Axis' ThinServer Technology - a network-optimized architecture that Axis introduced to the marketplace in 1995. Axis' ThinServer approach includes "thin" versions of today's most popular network operating systems, Web management tools and Axis' own ETRAX 32-bit network RISC processor. This unique architecture enables peripherals to attach directly to the network without the need for a PC or file server and allows resources to be accessed and managed by the Web-based tools with which end users and administrators are already familiar.
Axis Communications owes much of its success to a simple yet compelling vision - that it should be possible, easy, and affordable to attach anything to a network. That basic tenet has, and continues to, drive all product development. Axis' ThinServer Technology architecture has enabled the company to create a full range of specialized intelligent devices that perform essential business functions. As an architecture designed specifically for network-attached peripherals, ThinServer Technology simplifies installation, access, and management of shared resources across corporate LANs, intranets and enterprises, as well as the Internet.
The Market Driving Thin Servers
As more complex (and more expensive) applications and peripherals find a place in everyday business, there is increasing demand for universal access to a wider range of peripheral devices. From color printers and scanners to storage devices and digital camera images, businesses want to leverage the power of high-end resources while reducing overall costs. While the Internet has opened up the world to end users, it has only further exacerbated the problems network administrators face as they try to provide seamless connectivity and quick access to users across multivendor network environments.
Traditionally, organizations have looked to the network file server or PC as the primary means of adding shared resources and increased access to network users. However, file servers weren't designed to handle the multiple networking environments today's peripherals share. Between files, print, fax and server-based applications, as well as E-mail, security and CD-sharing, file servers can quickly become both technology and administrative nightmares - where both the systems and IS team find themselves struggling to keep pace with configurations, upgrades and multiple operating systems. At the same time, businesses have both initial investment and total cost of ownership (TCO) concerns that must continually be addressed.
By embedding network intelligence directly into a wide range of peripherals, bypassing the file server altogether, Axis Communications takes the cost, administration and access issues head on -- allowing network administrators to immediately reap cost and administrative time savings.
It is no wonder that independent analyst firms following the computer industry such as Dataquest, predict that thin server-based peripherals such as those offered by Axis Communications will experience exponential growth between now and the turn of the century.
Executive Staff
Mikael Karlsson is president and chief executive officer of Axis AB, the Swedish parent company of Axis Communications, Inc. As a company co-founder, Karlsson had an executive and operative role in establishing Axis in Europe, Asia and the United States. He is currently focusing on the company's global integration, overall positioning and strategy, and engineering efficiencies. Prior to Axis, Mr. Karlsson served as assistant to the CEO of Skane-Gripen, a publicly held Swedish company. Mr. Karlsson graduated from the Stockholm School of Economics and Business Administration with a graduate degree in international business.
Peter Ragnarsson isVice President of operations and finance, of Axis Communications worldwide. Since joining the company in 1995, Mr Ragnarsson has held the position of chief financial officer of Axis Communications worldwide. Prior to Axis, Mr. Ragnarsson served four years with an international audit firm in Sweden, as well as holding senior finance positions in diverse growth industries including healthcare (Arjo Group) and security (Securitas Group). Mr. Ragnarsson graduated from the University of Lund with a BS degree in business administration and economics and an MBA in economics and management.
Charlotta Falvin isVice President of business operations, of Axis Commincations worlwide. Since joining Axis in 1994, Ms. Falvin has served as director of operations, director of sales, sales manager for northern Europe, and contributed to the development of OEM business for Axis. Prior to Axis, she served as a senior consultant at Lars Weibull AB, a consultancy for international market and distribution development in Sweden. Ms. Falvin holds a master's degree in international business administration from the University of Lund.
Bengt Christensson, is the chief technology officer of Axis Communications worldwide, based at Axis' Silicon Valley office in Mountain View, California. Since joining the company in 1985, he has held the positions of vice president of business development, responsible for OEM partnerships and business development, development manager and product manager for the development of IBM protocol converters and network print servers. Mr. Christensson previously worked at the University of Lund in Sweden as a research engineer. A graduate of the Lund Institute of Technology, Mr. Christensson holds a master's degree in electrical engineering and followed up with post-graduate studies in computer science.