Axis continues to advance in U.S. school surveillance

Axis Communications further strengthens its position in the U.S. market for network video surveillance for schools and universities. With hundreds of systems installed in schools around the country, Axis has already secured a strong market position as well as a solid reference base necessary for further growth. Now, the Missouri School Boards' Association (MSBA) has selected an Internet Protocol (IP) surveillance system based on Axis network video products to present to school districts nationwide.

MSBA recognizes the need for digital surveillance as a tool to assist schools in providing a secure environment for students to learn. The system discourages vandalism and theft, encourages students to self-regulate their behavior, and verifies the presence of employees, students and vendors. The system also allows for community involvement. Districts have the option to give access to local police and other first responders, giving them real-time images of conditions in and around the school. The network cameras will be placed in schools' public areas such as lunchrooms and hallways - areas where most incidents in school are likely to occur. "Surveillance systems play an important role in a modern school's daily operations and help protect students, faculty and staff from various threats," said Tim Beerup, chief operating officer of MSBA. "MSBA evaluated many different security solutions and found that the system from Digital Technology & Surveillance, based on Axis network video technology, is the superior product." School security is one of the fastest growing markets for network video technology. According to the U.S. Department of Education 2002 "Indicators of School Crime and Safety" report, 15 percent of public schools reported using video surveillance to monitor students and their school. Solutions based on Axis' products are currently used for advanced campus security in schools throughout Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Besides the fast growth in the U.S. within the application area, Axis has also a large number of installations in schools around Europe. For further information, please contact: Anne Rhenman, Director Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, Axis Communications Phone: + 46 708 90 18 29, E-mail: anne.rhenman@axis.com