Leaf Industries, the sole value-added distributor in Africa for Axis Communications, today announced that Torbj"orn Ward has joined the Axis Communications management team as Vice President and General Manager of the Mobile Internet Division. The Mobile Internet Division was formed earlier this year to guide the company into a leadership position in the emerging market for wireless and mobile communications. Ward, a former Ericsson executive, brings significant leadership experience in these emerging markets.
"We are thrilled to have Torbj"orn join our team in such a key role," said Peter Ragnarsson, president and chief executive officer of Axis Communications. "We intend to become a world leader in mobile Internet solutions and e-Services. To meet this goal, Axis has ramped-up investments in new wireless technologies, recruited key personnel from Scandinavia`s telecommunications industry and already introduced our first product using wireless technology. Torbj"orn will take this initiative to the next level."
Ward was most recently responsible for Ericsson`s Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) based Wireless Office Systems in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ward will be based in Stockholm where Axis is setting up a research and development facility for the Mobile Internet operations.
"This is a truly exciting time to join Axis," Ward said. "Our new business opportunities in the emerging wireless world leverage Axis` strengths and heritage in embedded systems and network connectivity. We will work closely with ISP`s, telcos and other communications infrastructure players to rapidly develop new products and services to meet the demands of this market."
Emerging wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth, play an important role in Axis` mobile Internet strategy. Last month Axis demonstrated the Bluetooth Access Point from Axis, the first of a planned family of devices that provide "hot spots" of broadband Internet access and services to a wide range of wireless devices. These offerings will support both voice and data services, extending the capabilities and usability of both wireless devices and fixed network resources.
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Axis Communications
The Axis Communications Group with the parent company Axis AB is a leading company in network connectivity and emerging wireless Internet based services. The company is at the forefront of developing network appliance solutions that enable people and organisations to get easy and immediate access to devices and services. Axis is one of the global leaders in several key thin server and network device markets, such as printer, storage and video connectivity, and is doing pioneering work in the rapidly expanding markets of wireless and mobile communications.
Founded in 1984, Axis employs more than 500 people worldwide, including the subsidiary 50 percent owned Netch Technologies. Axis is headquartered in Lund, Sweden and has a total of 28 offices throughout North America, Asia and Europe. Information about Axis can be found at http://www.axis.com.
Leaf Industries
Leaf Industries is the sole value added distributor in Africa for Axis Communications, and for the locally developed and manufactured range of Edge products for the GSM marketplace.