The Rise and Fall of ACTi

Published Mar 13, 2023 14:27 PM

Taiwan's ACTi emerged in the late 2000s as a formidable low-cost competitor to American and European companies including Arecont Vision, Axis, IQinVision, and Mobotix. But what has happened to ACTi?

IPVM Image

While domestic competitor Vivotek has grown sizeably, ACTi has shrunk significantly, including now OEMing a PRC China competitor.

In this note, based on IPVM's examination of the company's financial records, interviews with former employees, and analysis of its current product offerings, IPVM examines the rise and fall of the company.

ACTi declined to comment on IPVM, directing us to its website for information.

ACTi's ***** ***********

**** *** ******* ** **** *** is ***** *** ** ***** ***, who ********** *** ********* ***** ** internet *** ************** ********* ********* *********, Nortel ********, *** *** ******** ** Taiwan, *** ***** * ******'* ****** in ******** ******* **** *** ********** of *************. *** *** *** ******* to ****'* ******** *** *******.

** *** ** *** ***** ** camera ********* ** *** ***** ************ industry, **** ******** **** * ***** number ** ***** ******** ** *** late *****. ** ************ ********* *** US ****** ******* ***************** *** *** **** ********** ** those ** *********** **** ****, *** at **** *** *****. **** ******* ACTi's **** ** **** -** ******* *** *** **** ****** - ******** ****'* ******* ********:

***** **** ******* ** ******* ** the **********, **** ***** ** ********* IP ******* ** *** ******. **** a ***** ****** **** *** ********* NVR *******, **** ****** ******* ******* for ******* ********. * ******* **** is *** **** ************ ****** **** attractive ** *** **** ****** ** traditional ******** ****** *** **** ******** or **** *** **** **** ** justify *** *** ** ** *******.

*******,* ***** *****, **** ******** ******** *** *** *******:

* ***** *** ********* ***** ******* of ******* ******* *********** *** ****** progress... ** ****, **** *** *******'* revenue *** ****** *****. ***, ******* is ** **** ** ** ***** as ***** ** **** - ** outcome **** ***** **** **** ********** a *** ***** ***.

**** ******, *** *******’* ** ******** **** 2005 ** ****, ********* **** **** the ******* **** **** **** ***** an *************** ******* ** ******** * company ** *****:

** ***** ** ****** ** **** where * *** ******* ** *** about *** *****, *** ** ** garage ** ** *****, ** *** actual ******. ** *** * ** 5 ****** ** *** ******.

*** **** ** **** * ********* decision ** ** ***** *** ****** the ************** ***** *** **** ****** company *********.

****** **** ********* **** **** ***** changes *** *** ********** ****** ********, the ******* *** **** ** **** “a *** ** ****** ***** **** quickly” **** *** ****** ** *** company.

Revenue ****

****'* ******* ****** ** **** *** has ******** ** */*** *****, ** the ***** ***** *****:

IPVM Image

****'* **** **** *** ****, ** $38 *******, ***** **** ********* ***** be ********** ** $***+ ******* ****** revenue *********, ***** *** **** *** IP ****** ****** *** ***** ** the **** ******-****.

***** *** ** ****** ****** ******* 2010 *** **** ******, ******* ********, ACTi's ******* **** ********* * ***** of **** **.*% **** ****'* $** million ** $****'* $** *******.

** ****, ****'* ******* ******** **** to ~$**.* *******. **** ** ***** for *****'* ***** ************ ******, *.*. Vivotek's ******* *** **** $*** *******, 20x ****'* ****. ****, ******** *** Hanwha *** **** **** **** $*** million, ***.

** **** ******* *****, ** ** hard ** ******* ** *** *********** and ********* ** ******** ******** ** far ****** ******.

ACTi's ****** **************

**** *** * ****** *** ** ~$13 *******. ***** *********** *** ~**% of *** *******, **** ** ***** executive ** ********** ******* **** **** 10% ** *** ****** *****.

IPVM Image

***** ****, **** *** **** ****** on *** ****** ******** ***** ******, a *********** ***-*** ****** *** ******* companies ** ***** ***** ******* *** visibility, *** ******** ********* ***** ***** targets ** ** *** *******. **** stayed ** **** ****** ******* ****** further ***** *** **** **** * decade.

Dahua *** ********* ******

*** ****** ****** ****'* ******* *** the ****** ******** ***** ****** ************* **** ***** *** Hikvision ** *** *****. **** ******** * “**** ** the ******” ******* ******** ** ***** they ******** ******, ********** ***********. ******* these *********** ********* *** ********* ** the *****, *********** **** ** ******* and ******'* ******* **** *** ******.

Sudden ******* ********* ******

**** **** *********** * *********** ********** change ******* **** - ****. ***** of *** ******** ******* ** *** company -******** ** ********* ***** **,*** ****** ****, ******** ******** ****** ****** **** **** ****** **** ******.** ********, ****** **** ******** **** the ******* ** ****, *** ********* that ***** **** ** ******* **** of ********** *** ******** ****** **** followed *** *** *******:

**** ** *************, **** **** ***** forward, *** ******* ****'* **** *** real ********. **** ******* ** **** people. ** *****'*, * *****'* **** them ** *** ***********, **** ** specifications ** **** *** **, *** a **** ****.

**** ********** ***** ********* **** *** timing **** **** ******* ** **** out **** ******** *********.

Comparison **** *******

**** *** ******* ****** *** **** time ** *******, *** ****** *******, ACTi *** *** ***** ** ***** an ***/*** ********. **** ******* ****'* ability ** ***** *** ********* ****** relationships **** ******** *********.

** ********, ** ******* ****** ********* its ******* ***** *** ********* ****** in *** *.*., **** ****** **** its ********* *** ****** ****** ** the *.*. *** ***** **** ***** markets **** ** *** ****** ****.

Minimal ******** ** *** **

** *** **** ****, ****** ******* show **** ******* * ***** ** ~25,000 *** ** ***** ** *** branch ** *** **. **** ** quite *** ******** ** ***** ********** surveillance ************* *** **** *** ** 100x **** ********.

IPVM Image

OEMing ** *******

**** ** *** ****** **** ******* for ** ******** * ****** *********** ** ******* ** ** "**** complaint":

IPVM Image

*** *******, *** **** * ****** web ********* ******* ******* **** *******'*:

IPVM Image

** ********:

IPVM Image

**** *** * ********** **** *** product ************ **** **** **** ** it *** ***** ** *** ******** side, *.*.*** **** ****** *-********************* *** *** ******* *** * Business*** ****** ** ******** ****:

IPVM Image

*** **** ****** ****** ******* ****** **** ***** ****, * *** 40x **** ***** **** ******** ** June ****.

*******

* ******** *** **** ** ********, though ***** **** ******** ** *******, we ****** ** ******* **** ***** plans ***.

*** ******* *** ********* ****** *** on * **** *** ***-*** ************* over *** **** *** ***** *** what **** ** **** ** ******* to **.

Comments (16)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Mar 13, 2023
IPVMU Certified

*********** *****. **** ****.

*** * ***** ******, **** ******* and **** **** *** * *** pricing **** **** ***********, *** ** seemed (** **** ***** ******) ** was * ***** **** ** ****** for *** ********** * ****** ***.

***, **** ********* *** ***** ****** of ***** ****** ******.

(2)
(1)
JH
John Honovich
Mar 13, 2023
IPVM

****

****'* ******* ******* **** *** * big **** *** ****. *** **** we **** ***** ** ** * post *** **** ****** **** ************ there.

(2)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Mar 13, 2023

** ***** ******* ***?

JH
John Honovich
Mar 13, 2023
IPVM

***** ** ** *********** ****. **'* a ** (**** ******) ******* **** started ** **** (**** **** ********* ***** *** ***).

* ***'* **** **** **** **** doing ******* *** *** ***** *** been ** *** / ********** *** many *****. **** ***** **** ************* different **** **** (*** ***** *** past *** ***** *** * **** manufacturer).

***** ***** ** ******** ********* *** it *** ** **** ** **** up, *.*. * *** ***** ************* ***** **** *********** / ***** ***** *** **** To **** *****-**** *******

**** ********, ****** ******* **** ****** suppliers:

IPVM Image

(1)
PK
Petr Kvasnovsky
Mar 13, 2023

*** ** *** **** ******* **** received ***** **** **** * ******* exodus ** ********* ** *******. *** question * ***'* **** * ***** for ** **** *** *****. *** sales ******* ** *** ******.

(1)
U
Undisclosed #6
Mar 20, 2023

*** ***** ********* ******...**** **** *** go ** *** **** ****....

JH
John Honovich
Mar 20, 2023
IPVM

***** *** ******* **** *** ****** a ********, **** ** ** ********* soon

PK
Petr Kvasnovsky
Mar 13, 2023

**** *** ******** ** ***** ****** distributors, **** ******* *** *** ***** policy. ******* ******* *********** *** *** market *** **** *** ****. **** has ***** ** ******* ** *** country **** *** ***** ** *** enough ** **** * ************... **** established *** *** *** ** ***** were *** ************ ** *** ******* portfolio ** ******* *** ****, ** gave ** **** **** *** ******* on ******* ****.

(4)
Avatar
Brian Karas
Mar 13, 2023
Pelican Zero

** * ***** ***, * ***** Acti *** *** ***** *** *** trunk ******* ******.

** **** ************ ** **** ** Taiwanese ***** ** ******** ****** **** at *** **** ************ *********** ****** within **' ** ***** ***** *** declaring "*************?" **** *** **** *****, until *** ****** *** **** ** acquiesced.

***** ******** **** ***** ** ** low ****, *** **** *** **** little **-****** ************** ** *** **. I ***** **** **** *** ****** of **** ***** **** ** * cut **** *******. *** **** ** thing **** * ******* ************ ***** relish, **** *** ******** *** **** too *** ***** ** ***** **** for ***** ** ******* ** ******.

** **** ***, ** ********* ******* were ***** ***, ** ** *** very *****, *** *** ******* ****** for ****** ******. *** *********** ***** notable ********* ** ****** ******* **** by ****** ****** ***** **** ****** projects, ***** ****** ******* **** ****, or ***, ** ******* ********* *** really **** * **********. ******* ****** presence ** *** **, **** ****** the *********** ** ****** *** ******** in *** ******.

****'* ******** *** ***** **** ****** for ***** ********, *** ***** **** weren't ***** ** ********* ******** ** those ****. ** ***** *** ** a ***** ****** ******.

*******, ** ** ******* **** ** popularity, **** ****** ** **** **** the ******** *****. **** **** ** presence, ******* **** **** * ******* was ***** ********** ** ***** * somewhat ***** ******* ******, ********* **** from ****** ********* ** * ****** that **** **** *** ********** ***.

* ******** ****** * *** **** cameras *** ******* ********. **** ******** me * *** ** ***** ******** from *** **** ***. ******** ***** quality, ****** ***, ****** *****, *** once ********** **** ******** * ****** competitive ***** *** *** *****.

(2)
JH
John Honovich
Mar 13, 2023
IPVM

*** ***** *** *** ***** ******* market.

...******** ****** **** ** *** **** relentlessly *********** ****** ****** **' ** their ***** *** ********* "*************?" **** and **** *****, ***** *** ****** ran **** ** **********.

* ******** **** ** ****, ** was **** *******. *** **** ******* me ** **** ** * ******* mistake *** *** **** ** ***** have **** **** **** ****** ** smaller ******.

** *** **** ** ********* ***'* commercial *******, ** *** ********** ****** by **** ****** (*** ****** ***** well) ***** *********** ****** **** *************.

** ********, **** ************ ****** ** inside / ******** ***** ****** ***** certainly **** **** ********* *** **** less *********.

(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
Mar 14, 2023

*** ***** ** ** *** ************* count **** ** * ****** ******** most ***** ***** **** ***** *** one ** *** ***** ******* **** a *********** ***** *** **** ****** our ********... ***** ******** ** *** EST, *********** ******* **** ******-**-****** ******** of **** ***** **********, *** * long **** ** ******-** ********** ** every ****** *** *** **** **** business **** ****, **** ** ***** be ******** ** ****** ** *** Vegas * **** ****** *** *** all-day ******** ******* * ***** **** day **** ***** **** **** *** sequined ******... ** *** *** *** much...

(1)
(1)
(9)
(2)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Mar 14, 2023

*** ******* **** ** ******* ****** well *** **** ** **** ***** get ****** ***.

(1)
Avatar
Thomas Richardson
Mar 15, 2023

**** ** **** ***** *** ****** hot

* **** **** ********* **** ******* at * ***** **** ***** ******* ceiling ***** *** *** ****** *** burned * *****, *****-**** ******* **** the ****. * **** ***** **** anything **** ** ******.

(2)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Mar 14, 2023

**** *** **** ****** **** ************ when ** **** ** ******* *********. Way *** ****.

(5)
(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Mar 19, 2023

** **** ******** ** * ********* perspective ** *** * ***** ******** of **** ******* *** ** ***** that ******* ** ****. ** **** time ** **** * *** ******* into ***** ************ *** ***** **** market ********* ** ******** ******* *** QNAP ** *** ***** ******** *** us ** ***** **** *** ******. To *** *********** ** *** ***** in *** ********* ** ** **** different ****** ******** ( **** * lot ** *** *** ************!) *** smb ***** ****** ** ******* **** and ** *** **** *** ****** was ********* ** ****** ****** ********* who ***** ********* ****** **** ** on ***** ***** ****. ** *** a ********* ******* ** ****** *** and ******* *** ******** ** *** technical ****** ** ** ** ****** to ******* *** ****** ****. ** were ******* ** **** ********* ** win ***** *** * ***** ********** with ******* **** ********** *********** *** i ***** ** **** *** ***** at *** **** ** ** ********** seriously.... ** ********* *********** *** * came **** * **** ** "*** camera ***" *** ********... ** ***** very ****** ** *** **** ****** video ******* *** ** *** * few ****** ** * ***** ** the ***** ** *** ***** ***** were **** ********** *** ** ** the ****. * ********* **** *** spent * ****** ** **** ****** reviewing ***** ******* ****. ***** ******** was ** ******** ** ** ** i ******** * ***** *** *** NVR **** *** **** ******** *** i *** **** **** ********** ** their ******* ***** (** ******* ******** it *** *********) *** * *** thinking **** ***** ** ******** ** offer * ****** ****** ********. ***** exchanging * *** ****** **** ***** sales ******** ** ** ******** ** flew *** ** ** ******** **** TAIWAN.. ** *** **** ***** *** we *** ** *** . ** immediately ****** * **** *** ** about ** *******. **** **** ** to ** * ****** ** ***** with ******* *** ** **** ** to **** * ****** ******** **** cameras ********* **** **** ***** ********. We ******* * *** ** * series ****** *** **** **** * and * ****** ( ****** ****) to **** ******. ** **** **** supported **** **** ** **** **** additional ***********, ***** ******** *** **** sales ******* *** ********** ******* ** our ********* ****** ** **** ***** importing ******** **** ******. *** ******* of *** ********* ****** *** **** we ******* ********* ** ***** *** focused **** ** ********* ********* ** matching ****** ***** ** *** ************...*** pricing *** ****** ****** **** ********* by **** ******* ***********.

** ***** ** ********* **** *** remained ** **** *** *** **** efficient ******** ** ********** ********* ***** order **** ****** ****** ** ***** 2 *****

** **** **** **** *********, **** and *** ****** ************* ** *** hanwha ******** ** ** *** ****** to **** ***** ** *** ***** and **** ******* ** **** ****** to *******. ****** ***** **** ****** be ***** * ***** ** ****.. one ** *** ******** ****** *** us *** ***** ****** **** *** certified ** **** ***** **** **** quickly ....*** ** ** *** *** the **** * ****** ( *** latest ******) ** ******* ****** *** milestone ************* ******** *****.

** **** ** **** *** **** few ******* *** *** ******* ********* to ** **** **** ** **** has **** * ****** *** **. We **** ** ***** ****** ***** days ** *** * ****** *** drop ** *** * ** ***** for **** ***** ********* *****. **** would ** ** ******** ** ** is ** **** ******* **** ** their ********* ** ** * ***** brand ***** ******* **********. * **** in ***** ******* ***** ********** ** a ****** ** **** ** ******* manufacturer ** **** **** ** ***************** in ***** **************... **** *** ********** the ***** ******* *** ****** **** very **** *** ********* ** **** do *** ********* ******* **** **** do ** ***** *********. * *** say **** ** **** *** ****** good ******* ** *** **** **** their *** , *** ****** *** I42 ****** , *** *** *** were **** ***** **** ** **** to ***** *******

**** * **** ** ***** *** today * ***** *** **** ***** specifications **** *** *** ***** *****

*** ******* **** **** */*, **, Extreme ***, ****, ***** ****, **.***/**.* (HOV:101.3°), *.***/*.***, *****/*****, **+** ***, *****, MicroSDHC/MicroSDXC, ***/*****, ****, ****, **/**

** **** ****** ***** ** * hanwha ******* **

***-*****

******* * ******* ******* ****** **** camera, *** @*****, *** ***** ***** lens (**°), ****** ***** *.***/*.***/***** **** Wisestream **, ***** ***, ** **** range **', ****** *********, *********, ******* detection, ******* ****, *** *** ***** and ** **** (***. *****). ****, IK10, ***/*****, ***** *****

*** *** **** ** ****** *** us ** ***** ** *** *** an ****** ** ***** *** ***** now ****** ** **** * ******* for * ********** *** *** ***** the **** ***** *** *** *********..**** this ** ***** ** ***** ** your *********..* ********** **** **** ** ACTI * ****** ** * ****** of ***** ********* *** ** **** out ********* *** ** ** ** tests *** **** ****** ******* *****.

** ****** ***** **** ****** ** have ******* * **** ***** ** their ***** **** **** ** *** E ****** *** *** **** ****** here ** *** * ****** ****...***** are ****** *** *** * ****** cameras. * ***** **** ** *** to **** ********* *** **** *** been ** ***** *** ** ** we ** **** * *** ** 16 ****** ***** , ***** ************ on *** ** ****** *** ******* in **** *** **** ***** ***********. We **** ***** **** ** **** a **** ****** ********* **** *** and ***** *** *** ****** **** for ********* ************* ******** ****** **** we **** ** *** ***** ******* with ***** *** ********.

** ** *** ******** ***** ****** analytics *** ** ***** ******** ** analytics *** ***** *** *********, ** did *** ***** **** **** *** the ******** *** ****** **% ** not ****. ***** *** ****** *** work ***** **** ****** **** **** and **** ******* **** **** ******* in *** **** ***.

(1)
(4)
JH
John Honovich
Mar 20, 2023
IPVM

#*, **** ***********! * ** ***** you *** ***** **** **** ****.

**** ***** ** ** ******** ** us ** ** **** ******* **** in ***** ********* ** ** * cross ***** ***** ******* **********

** ***'* **** ***** ***** ***, mainly ******* ***** ***** ** ** low (*** *** ******* ****** ** discussed ** *** ****) *** **** are *** ******** *** ***** ********* advantages. ** *** ********* ********* *** number ** ********* ** ******* ** shootouts *** **** *** **, ***** are ******.

* ** ********* ************ **** **** hid **** ** ** **** ******. I ***** **** ******* ** ***** they ***** **** ******* *** **** would ******* *** *** ********** ***** are *** ********* *****. ** *** hear **** **** ***** **** *** offerings *** ******, **'* **** ** hear.