Axis: Difference between revisions - Consumer Rights Wiki

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[[wikipedia:Axis_Communications|'''Axis''']] is a video surveillance company with approximately 4,000 employees across more than 50 countries that was founded in 1984 and headquartered in Lund, Sweden.<ref>Axis website, https://www.axis.com/en-us/about-axis

~~Archived link to Axis website,~~ https://archive.ph/~~8oCS2~~</ref>

[https://web.archive.org/web/20250118192802/https://www.axis.com/en-us/about-axis Archived] 2025-01-18</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

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Released in 2016,<ref name=":0">Companion software release notes, https://www.axis.com/ftp/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_companion/latest/relnote.txt

~~Archived,~~ https://archive.ph/~~RNJ8J~~</ref> Axis Companion Classic (formerly just Axis Companion) was a freely provided software for Axis account owners to be able to setup, configure, & manage cameras on the network. It also allowed a remote viewing feature for an iOS or Android Companion app to be able to view camera feeds remotely.

[https://web.archive.org/web/20250118183233/https://www.axis.com/ftp/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_companion/latest/relnote.txt Archived] 2025-01-18 </ref> Axis Companion Classic (formerly just Axis Companion) was a freely provided software for Axis account owners to be able to setup, configure, & manage cameras on the network. It also allowed a remote viewing feature for an iOS or Android Companion app to be able to view camera feeds remotely.

===Removal of remote access support===

Axis signaled that they would be removing remote access for any new sites created after March 31, 2023.<ref name=":0" /> Their software was updated in version 3.74.000 (released on March 15, 2023) to notify customers.<ref name=":1">Axis Companion FTP download site, [https://www.axis.com/ftp/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_companion/]

~~Archived,~~ [https://archive.ph/~~ebg4g~~]</ref>

[https://web.archive.org/web/20250118183555/https://www.axis.com/ftp/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_companion/ Archived] 2025-01-18</ref>

When version 3.75.000 was released on March 24, 2023,<ref name=":1" /> '''the only change was to prevent users from being able to enable remote access to camera feeds for new sites.'''

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Starting June 27, 2024, Axis removed support for any new device configurations in Companion with third-party SD cards.<ref name=":2">Policy update regarding 3rd Party SD Cards, https://www.axis.com/dam/public/11/2e/29/axis-surveillance-cards-now-required-en-US-443994.pdf

~~Archived,~~ https://archive.ph/~~uHiaB~~</ref> This policy change effectively forces customers to purchase Axis-branded storage solutions for any new installations, while existing installations using third-party SD cards would continue to function.<ref name=":2" />

[https://web.archive.org/web/20250118190032/https://www.axis.com/dam/public/11/2e/29/axis-surveillance-cards-now-required-en-US-443994.pdf Archived] 2026-01-18</ref> This policy change effectively forces customers to purchase Axis-branded storage solutions for any new installations, while existing installations using third-party SD cards would continue to function.<ref name=":2" />

The company justifies this change by claiming their SD cards are optimized for surveillance applications and offer greater functionality and endurance.<ref>NetworkWebcams.co.uk article to explain pricing https://www.networkwebcams.co.uk/blog/why-use-axis-sd-surveillance-cards-in-ip-cameras/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250916223323/https://www.networkwebcams.co.uk/blog/why-use-axis-sd-surveillance-cards-in-ip-cameras/ Archived])</ref> This change also coincides with Axis' expansion of proprietary storage requirements across their product lines, including their Camera Station Edge platform which similarly mandates the use of Axis-branded SD cards.<ref>FAQ for Axis Edge, https://faq.axis.com/s/article/third-party-sd-cards-as-recording-storage-in-my-vms-solution</ref>

The company justifies this change by claiming their SD cards are optimized for surveillance applications and offer greater functionality and endurance.<ref>NetworkWebcams.co.uk article to explain pricing https://www.networkwebcams.co.uk/blog/why-use-axis-sd-surveillance-cards-in-ip-cameras/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250916223323/https://www.networkwebcams.co.uk/blog/why-use-axis-sd-surveillance-cards-in-ip-cameras/ Archived])</ref> This change also coincides with Axis' expansion of proprietary storage requirements across their product lines, including their Camera Station Edge platform which similarly mandates the use of Axis-branded SD cards.<ref name=":3">FAQ for Axis Edge, https://faq.axis.com/s/article/third-party-sd-cards-as-recording-storage-in-my-vms-solution</ref>

===Axis SD cards===

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====Pricing and market position====

As of 2025, Axis' SD cards are sold at approximately five times the price of comparable third-party SD cards<ref>~~Pricing 256GB Axis SD Card,~~ https://archive.ph/~~nS3l4~~

As of 2025, Axis' SD cards are sold at approximately five times the price of comparable third-party SD cards<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20250125114540/https://camcentral.net/product/axis-surveillance-card-256gb/ Pricing 256GB Axis SD Card], Pricing 256GB Samsung SD Card</ref> despite being based on standard SanDisk hardware. The company's transition to requiring these proprietary cards across their product lines creates a closed ecosystem where consumers must purchase storage solutions exclusively from Axis at premium prices.

~~Pricing 256GB Samsung SD Card,~~ https://~~archive~~.ph/~~CM2z8~~</ref> despite being based on standard SanDisk hardware. The company's transition to requiring these proprietary cards across their product lines creates a closed ecosystem where consumers must purchase storage solutions exclusively from Axis at premium prices.

====Platform lock-in====

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*Axis Companion (new installations after June 27, 2024)<ref name=":2" />

*Camera Station Edge platform<ref~~>FAQ for Axis Edge, https~~:/~~/faq.axis.com/s/article/third-party-sd-cards-as-recording-storage-in-my-vms-solution</ref~~>

*Camera Station Edge platform<ref name=":3" />

This represents a shift from open hardware compatibility to a closed ecosystem where customers have to buy Axis-branded storage at sky-high prices to maintain full functionality of their security system.

== Products ==

==Products==

== See also ==

==See also==

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 [[wikipedia:Axis_Communications|'''Axis''']] is a video surveillance company with approximately 4,000 employees across more than 50 countries that was founded in 1984 and headquartered in Lund, Sweden.<ref>Axis website, https://www.axis.com/en-us/about-axis
-Archived link to Axis website, https://archive.ph/8oCS2</ref>
+[https://web.archive.org/web/20250118192802/https://www.axis.com/en-us/about-axis Archived] 2025-01-18</ref>
 ==Consumer impact summary==
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 Released in 2016,<ref name=":0">Companion software release notes, https://www.axis.com/ftp/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_companion/latest/relnote.txt
-Archived, https://archive.ph/RNJ8J</ref> Axis Companion Classic (formerly just Axis Companion) was a freely provided software for Axis account owners to be able to setup, configure, & manage cameras on the network. It also allowed a remote viewing feature for an iOS or Android Companion app to be able to view camera feeds remotely.
+[https://web.archive.org/web/20250118183233/https://www.axis.com/ftp/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_companion/latest/relnote.txt Archived] 2025-01-18 </ref> Axis Companion Classic (formerly just Axis Companion) was a freely provided software for Axis account owners to be able to setup, configure, & manage cameras on the network. It also allowed a remote viewing feature for an iOS or Android Companion app to be able to view camera feeds remotely.
 ===Removal of remote access support===
 Axis signaled that they would be removing remote access for any new sites created after March 31, 2023.<ref name=":0" /> Their software was updated in version 3.74.000 (released on March 15, 2023) to notify customers.<ref name=":1">Axis Companion FTP download site, [https://www.axis.com/ftp/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_companion/]
-Archived, [https://archive.ph/ebg4g]</ref>
+[https://web.archive.org/web/20250118183555/https://www.axis.com/ftp/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_companion/ Archived] 2025-01-18</ref>
 When version 3.75.000 was released on March 24, 2023,<ref name=":1" /> '''the only change was to prevent users from being able to enable remote access to camera feeds for new sites.'''
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 Starting June 27, 2024, Axis removed support for any new device configurations in Companion with third-party SD cards.<ref name=":2">Policy update regarding 3rd Party SD Cards, https://www.axis.com/dam/public/11/2e/29/axis-surveillance-cards-now-required-en-US-443994.pdf
-Archived, https://archive.ph/uHiaB</ref> This policy change effectively forces customers to purchase Axis-branded storage solutions for any new installations, while existing installations using third-party SD cards would continue to function.<ref name=":2" />
+[https://web.archive.org/web/20250118190032/https://www.axis.com/dam/public/11/2e/29/axis-surveillance-cards-now-required-en-US-443994.pdf Archived] 2026-01-18</ref> This policy change effectively forces customers to purchase Axis-branded storage solutions for any new installations, while existing installations using third-party SD cards would continue to function.<ref name=":2" />
-The company justifies this change by claiming their SD cards are optimized for surveillance applications and offer greater functionality and endurance.<ref>NetworkWebcams.co.uk article to explain pricing https://www.networkwebcams.co.uk/blog/why-use-axis-sd-surveillance-cards-in-ip-cameras/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250916223323/https://www.networkwebcams.co.uk/blog/why-use-axis-sd-surveillance-cards-in-ip-cameras/ Archived])</ref> This change also coincides with Axis' expansion of proprietary storage requirements across their product lines, including their Camera Station Edge platform which similarly mandates the use of Axis-branded SD cards.<ref>FAQ for Axis Edge, https://faq.axis.com/s/article/third-party-sd-cards-as-recording-storage-in-my-vms-solution</ref>
+The company justifies this change by claiming their SD cards are optimized for surveillance applications and offer greater functionality and endurance.<ref>NetworkWebcams.co.uk article to explain pricing https://www.networkwebcams.co.uk/blog/why-use-axis-sd-surveillance-cards-in-ip-cameras/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250916223323/https://www.networkwebcams.co.uk/blog/why-use-axis-sd-surveillance-cards-in-ip-cameras/ Archived])</ref> This change also coincides with Axis' expansion of proprietary storage requirements across their product lines, including their Camera Station Edge platform which similarly mandates the use of Axis-branded SD cards.<ref name=":3">FAQ for Axis Edge, https://faq.axis.com/s/article/third-party-sd-cards-as-recording-storage-in-my-vms-solution</ref>
 ===Axis SD cards===
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 ====Pricing and market position====
-As of 2025, Axis' SD cards are sold at approximately five times the price of comparable third-party SD cards<ref>Pricing 256GB Axis SD Card, https://archive.ph/nS3l4
+As of 2025, Axis' SD cards are sold at approximately five times the price of comparable third-party SD cards<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20250125114540/https://camcentral.net/product/axis-surveillance-card-256gb/ Pricing 256GB Axis SD Card], Pricing 256GB Samsung SD Card</ref> despite being based on standard SanDisk hardware. The company's transition to requiring these proprietary cards across their product lines creates a closed ecosystem where consumers must purchase storage solutions exclusively from Axis at premium prices.
-Pricing 256GB Samsung SD Card, https://archive.ph/CM2z8</ref> despite being based on standard SanDisk hardware. The company's transition to requiring these proprietary cards across their product lines creates a closed ecosystem where consumers must purchase storage solutions exclusively from Axis at premium prices.
 ====Platform lock-in====
@@ Line 63: / Line 61: @@
 *Axis Companion (new installations after June 27, 2024)<ref name=":2" />
-*Camera Station Edge platform<ref>FAQ for Axis Edge, https://faq.axis.com/s/article/third-party-sd-cards-as-recording-storage-in-my-vms-solution</ref>
+*Camera Station Edge platform<ref name=":3" />
 This represents a shift from open hardware compatibility to a closed ecosystem where customers have to buy Axis-branded storage at sky-high prices to maintain full functionality of their security system.
-== Products ==
+==Products==
 {{Ph-C-P}}
-== See also ==
+==See also==
 {{Ph-C-SA}}