Axis Launches Open VMS (ACS5)

By: John Honovich, Published on Mar 10, 2016

Axis' VMS software has always been closed to Axis cameras only.

[UPDATE: Axis Camera Station Version 5 Test Report released.]

Now, Axis is opening their Camera Station VMS (ACS) to third party cameras in its new ACS5. Axis' strength in IP cameras and their long standing partnerships with numerous open VMS providers makes this a fascinating and important move.

In this note, we review the key functionalities added, the pricing and competitive impact of this.

****' *** ******** *** always **** ****** ** Axis ******* ****.

[******:**** ****** ******* ******* 5 **** **************.]

***, **** ******************** ******* *** (***)** ***** ***** ******* in ****** ****. ****' ******** ** IP ******* *** ***** long ******** ************ **** numerous **** *** ********* makes **** * *********** and ********* ****.

** **** ****, ** review *** *** *************** added, *** ******* *** competitive ****** ** ****.

[***************]

ACS5 ********

**** *** * ******* additions / ************:

  • ***** ***** ****** *******, which **** ****** ** as '********* *******'
  • * *** ****** ***
  • ******** ***** *********, ********** for ** *******,****** *** **** ***** does *** **** **** difference
  • ***** '*********' *** ******** searching / ******** ******** video

**** ****** ******* ***** **** tech ********** ***** ** **** marketing ***** *********** ****:

*** ** *** *** ACS5 ******** *** ****** common ** **** *****. The *** ******* **** truly ******* **** *********** positioning ** ******* ** to *** ***** *******.

Third ***** ****** *******

**** ** ********** ***** party ******* *** ***** Profile * *** **** are *** ********** ***** conformant. **** **** **** plan ** *** ******** conformance ***** **** ****. Axis *** ******* ************* ********* *** *** ***** whether * ****** / encoder **** **** **** ACS5.

Pricing **** ** ***** *****

**** *** ******** ** third ***** *******, **** is ******** *** **** license / ***** ***** VMS.

  • ********* ** *** **** per ******, ****** **** channel. **** ******** ******* with ******** ******** (*.*., encoders, *****-*******, ***.) ** only *** ******* ** needed *** **** ***.
  • * ***** ** ********* now *****: "****" *** "Universal" ****** ********
  • **** ******** *** *** Axis ******* *** **** up ** ** *******. MSRP ** $** *** per ******.
  • ********* ******** *** *** any *** **** ****** and *** *** ******* over ** *******. **** is $*** *** *** device.
  • ****** ***** ** ***** on ***** ******* ** a ******, *.*., ** you **** *** **** cameras ****** ** ******* connected ** * ****** client, **** ***** ******* 32 **** *** *** higher ****** ********* ********.
  • ** ********* / ****** / *********** ****, ** before, *** ****** ******** (ACS6, ***.) *** ******* an ******* ***.
  • ***** ******* ******* ********** ** try ************ ********.

ACS5 ******* *********** ***********

****'* ********** ****** ******* mitigates **** ** *** competitive ****** ** *** move. ***********, *** ***** Axis **** ******* (** or ****), **** ** at $** *** *******, higher **** **** **** VMSes, *** ****** ~$** for ***** ***** ******* (plus **** **** *******). For *** ***** / open *******, *** ******* of $*** *** ******* is ********* ********** ***** what **** **** ***** charges (***** ** *** $100 - $*** *****).

Milestone ** ****

**** **** ** ******* proof **** ***** ** allowing **** *** ********* to *** ** *********** against **** *****. *** company **** ****** ** lose *** **** **** an **** **** *** is ****** *********, ***** their ****** *********** ******** bases. ** **** *** part ** *** **** company, ** ***** **** more ********** ** ****** have **** *** ********* XProtect **** **** **** develop *** **** ********* products. **** *****, **** are ******* ***** ** compete ******* **** *****.

Open ***** ** ****

************, **** **** ** not ***** ** ** a ***** **** ***. The ********** ** ***** party ******* ******** **** the ********** **** ******* restricts *** ******* ** its ******.

** *** ***** ****, simply **** ******** ** option *** ********* *** want ** *** ** some ***-**** ******* **** a ******* **** **********, makes **** **** ** a **** / ********** for ***** ***** **** has *** **** ** the ****** ****. ************, Axis *** ****** ******* with **** *** ******** on *****, **** *** knowledge **** ** **** only *** *** *********** for ****. ***, ** will ** *********** ** see *** **** *** partners ******* ** **** move.

Download ****

**** *** ** ********** here**** * ** *** free ***** *******.

Upcoming **** **** ******

**** ** ******* **** and **** ******* * test ****** **** ******, along **** **** *********** analysis ***** ** *** test ******.

Comments (13)

Undisclosed #1

03/10/16 02:32pm

What other VMS companies also sell cameras?

Do any of them charge more for licensing other's cameras in their VMS than they do for their own cameras?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/10/16 02:35pm

Charging more for other cameras than one's own is not common but I do recall a few doing it (e.g., I think ACTi does this but not sure of specifics). It's not unprecedented and certainly makes sense. Better for Axis to incent buyers to use their own cameras.

Keefe Lovgren

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/10/16 02:37pm

UD1,

Avigilon (while not just a VMS company) also sells cameras but nothing extra is charged for third party camera licensing than what would be charged for avigilon cameras...

Keefe Lovgren

IPVMU Certified | 03/10/16 02:43pm

the name is striking similar to another vms manufacturer that i am familiar with...

i downloaded it, at first glance it is clean and easy to use... the licensing setup is interesting to me... i have often wondered why manufacturer's don't embed a license into their cameras that way if it is used with their vms there would be no charge (or maybe the charge is already wrapped up into the camera cost) so in essence you would only need to license a third party manufacturers camera... it would encourage dealer to look to the vms manufacturers camera line to find a fit first rather than a third party...

edited: to say "no" charge instead of "a" charge

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Keefe Lovgren | 03/10/16 02:52pm

"the name is striking similar to another vms manufacturer that i am familiar with..."

Axis Camera Station was shipping before Avigilon even existed (see 2005 Axis ACS manual). So perhaps the connection is the opposite?

Keefe Lovgren

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 03/10/16 02:56pm

touche!

Undisclosed #2

In reply to John Honovich | 03/10/16 03:31pm

"Axis Camera Station was shipping before Avigilon even existed (see 2005 Axis ACS manual). So perhaps the connection is the opposite?"

Perhaps the striking similarity is between Axis Camera Companion and Avigilon Control Center, ACC?

On that count, Avigilon wins hands down.

Dan Droker

LONG Building Technologies
IPVMU Certified | In reply to Keefe Lovgren | 03/10/16 04:35pm

i have often wondered why manufacturer's don't embed a license into their cameras that way if it is used with their vms there would be no charge

VideoInsight/Panasonic

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Keefe Lovgren | 03/12/16 03:44pm

If they were to embed the license, that would be something that could easily be hacked and duplicated. For instance, some may be aware that PC builders (Dell, HP, etc) embed a bit of code into their motherboard bios. This code, when verified by Windows, in conjunction with an installed certificate, instantly and permanently activates Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, Servers, etc). This type of activation is permanent and irrevocable.

Of course, people have hacked this info and made an app that is installed on your PC to emulate this bios code for those who didn't get a Dell. So, you can build your own PC from OTS hardware, install Windows without a license key, install this app, and then you never have to pay Bill his $100+.

This example could also be done if they do embed the license on a camera. It's risky to do so.

Undisclosed #2

03/10/16 04:02pm

I believe that Canon is just doing what any responsible security company would do here, building out full RAID 6 (Redundant Array of Indpendent Divisions) hot standby capability, between its Axis, Milestone and Canon Security Divisions.

Where other companies are still struggling to acheive RAID 5 company redundancy, Canon is now ready with RAID 6, providing 2 hot spares in case of failure in any of the business units, which then can be used to rebuild the array in record time!

Avatar

Ryan Hulse

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 03/11/16 04:32pm

Ungh. Someone marked your comment "Unhelpful". I'm going to assume they fat-fingered the "Funny" button. Very nice!

Undisclosed Integrator #3

03/10/16 09:53pm

I... I just don't get it. I honestly saw this going the other direction the day they both fell under the same umbrella. I cannot understand what this serves to do besides further erode margins when they directly compete.

John Honovich

IPVM | 03/24/16 12:02pm

Here's how Axis is positioning ACS5 in their own newsletter. Interesting that they have chosen to de-emphasize third party support:

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Milestone Launches Multiple Cloud Solutions on Feb 18, 2020
Milestone is going to the cloud, becoming one of the last prominent VMSes to do so. Milestone is clearly late but how competitive do these new...
Genetec Security Center 5.9 Release Examined on Feb 06, 2020
Genetec released the next major version of Security Center, less than a year after version 5.8. This also follows no Genetec major releases in...
Axis Discontinues Companion Hardware, Fully NDAA Compliant on Feb 03, 2020
Axis will be fully NDAA compliant, as the company has confirmed to IPVM it is discontinuing its Companion hardware that used Huawei Hisilicon...
Avigilon Integrates With Motorola Radios on Jan 29, 2020
Motorola is best known for its radios. Now, the company has taken a step forward of integrating its 2018 Avigilon acquisition with their...
Avigilon Shifts Cloud Strategy - Merges Blue and ACC on Jan 23, 2020
Avigilon is shifting its cloud strategy, phasing out its Blue web-managed surveillance platform as a stand-alone brand and merging it with its ACC...
Genetec Beats Milestone For IHS #1 on Jun 21, 2019
For years, Milestone has touted that they are the #1 VMS. Now, Genetec has beaten them in IHS rankings. But what is this? Even other manufacturers...
Bluecherry Open Sources Entire VMS on May 13, 2019
Bluecherry announced they have "released the entire Bluecherry software application open source with a GPL license". We spoke to Bluecherry's...
Verkada False Allegations Against Avigilon Exposed on May 08, 2019
Verkada has leveled false allegations against Avigilon, as part of their aggressive marketing tactics against the 'dinosaurs' in the 'ancient'...
Milestone Alleges [Now Removed], Qognify Denies VMS "Running Out Of Support" on May 01, 2019
Milestone is running a marketing campaign where they allege that OnSSI and Seetec VMSes are 'running out of support'. However, Qognify's CEO flatly...
Spring 2019 50+ New Products Directory on Apr 08, 2019
We are compiling a list of new products for Spring 2019 and have over 50 already. Contrast to Fall 2018 New Products Directory and Spring 2018...

Most Recent Industry Reports

GeoVision Presents AI and Facial Recognition on May 22, 2020
GeoVision presented its AI analytics and facial recognition at the April 2020 IPVM New Products show. Inside this report: A 30-minute video...
Density Presents Occupancy Monitoring For Coronavirus Protection on May 22, 2020
Density presented its cloud-based occupancy sensor to deal with Coronavirus at the May 2020 IPVM Startups show. Inside this report: A...
Openpath Presents Two Door PoE Controller on May 21, 2020
Openpath presented its new PoE controller at the May 2020 IPVM Startups show. Inside this report: A 30-minute video from Openpath including...
Bosch Presents MIC 7100 Extreme PTZs on May 21, 2020
Bosch presented its MIC 7100 Extreme PTZs at the April 2020 IPVM New Products show. Inside this report: A 30-minute video from Bosch...
Hikvision Chairman Targeted For Sanctions As Federal Watchdog Calls Out Hikvision "Serious Religious Freedom Violations" on May 21, 2020
The US government's religious freedom watchdog has criticized Hikvision for being "credibly implicated in serious religious freedom violations"....
Hikvision Temperature Screening Tested on May 20, 2020
Hikvision has ramped up the promotion of its 'temperature screening' system, including their salespeople arguing for no blackbody needed. But how...
Axxon Presents VMS 4.4 and AI Behavior Analytics on May 20, 2020
AxxonSoft presented its VMS 4.4 and AI behavior analytics at the April 2020 IPVM New Products show. Inside this report: A 30-minute video...
Indoor Robotics Presents Tando Aerial Drones on May 20, 2020
Indoor Robotics presented Tando indoor autonomous drones at the May 2020 IPVM Startups show. Inside this report: A 30-minute video from...
Directory of 89 Video Surveillance Startups on May 20, 2020
This directory provides a list of video surveillance startups to help you see and research what companies are new or not yet broadly...
FLIR Cancelling Contract With X.Labs / Feevr on May 20, 2020
While X.Labs announced the signing of a new agreement with FLIR on May 12, 2020, FLIR said, in response, on May 18, 2020, that they had cancelled a...