Arecont Vision
AV Costar (Arecont Vision Costar, LLC) is a US-based subsidiary of Costar Technologies that designs and manufactures megapixel IP cameras and video surveillance software built on proprietary FPGA-based image processing architecture, serving security integrators and end-user organizations globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersGlendale, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Arecont Vision does
Arecont Vision Costar, LLC (AV Costar) is a US-based designer and manufacturer of megapixel IP video surveillance cameras and supporting video management software, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Costar Technologies, Inc. The current entity was formed in July 2018 by combining the legacy Arecont Vision business (founded 2003 as a pioneer in megapixel surveillance) with the resources of Costar Technologies. The company is headquartered in Glendale, California, and employs 51-100 people. AV Costar serves security industry system integrators, installation contractors, and end-user organizations across commercial, institutional, and government verticals, with a go-to-market that combines direct enterprise sales, an authorized internet reseller/integrator network, and a direct e-commerce storefront.
The company's product portfolio is anchored on a proprietary 5th-generation FPGA-based Massively Parallel Image Processing (MPIP) architecture used across the MegaIP camera family. The architecture runs image processing directly on FPGA silicon without a common operating system, a design the company positions as a cybersecurity and upgradability advantage. Product lines include single-, dual-, and multi-sensor cameras (MegaIP and ConteraIP families — encompassing MegaVideo, MegaDome, MicroDome, MegaView, SurroundVideo, and SurroundVideo Omni form factors), cloud-enabled video management software (ConteraVMS), recurring-revenue web services (ConteraWS), and cloud-managed video recorders (ConteraCMR), marketed collectively as the Total Video Solution. Accessories include NVR appliances, lenses, housings, and IR illuminators. Differentiated features include SNAPstream adaptive bandwidth reduction, NightView low-light color imaging, Wide Dynamic Range up to 100dB, P-Iris lens control, and extended motion detection (up to 1,024 zones per sensor and over 4,000 zones on four-sensor models).
AV Costar generates revenue predominantly through one-time hardware sales of cameras and accessories, with a smaller but strategically growing recurring component from ConteraWS web services and ConteraVMS subscriptions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company operates a MAP-protected reseller channel, an online e-commerce store with Factory Renewed and One Costar Sale discounted SKUs, and direct enterprise sales supported by project registration and a system configurator tool. ONVIF compliance and a proprietary Arecont Vision API enable integration with third-party VMS and security platforms.
Arecont Vision firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Arecont Vision
- Legal name
- Arecont Vision Costar, LLC
- Website
- https://arecontvision.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- AV Costar (Arecont Vision Costar, LLC) is a US-based subsidiary of Costar Technologies that designs and manufactures megapixel IP cameras and video surveillance software built on proprietary FPGA-based image processing architecture, serving security integrators and end-user organizations globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Arecont Vision industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Surveillance Hardware and Software
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (3343)
- SIC
- Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Video Surveillance (CCTV/VMS) System Integration (BPAKAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Webcams & Video Capture Peripherals (HDACAFAG)
Keywords
Where Arecont Vision is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glendale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Arecont Vision business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Megapixel IP Camera Hardware: Sale of megapixel IP cameras including single-sensor, dual-sensor, and multi-sensor models across various form factors (box, dome, bullet, micro). Cameras are offered through MegaIP and ConteraIP product lines with various resolutions from 1.2MP to 40MP.
- Video Management Software (ConteraVMS): Cloud-enabled video management system software for recording and managing video surveillance footage.
- Web Services (ConteraWS): Recurring revenue generating web services for the surveillance platform.
- Cloud Managed Video Recorders (ConteraCMR): Cloud-managed video recorder appliances for surveillance storage and management.
- Accessories and Add-ons: Lenses, housings, IR illuminators, and miscellaneous accessories for camera systems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard new product pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Arecont Vision product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Arecont Vision Costar (AV Costar) designs and manufactures high-performance megapixel IP video surveillance cameras and supporting software for the security industry. The Total Video Solution portfolio includes MegaIP and ConteraIP single-, dual-, and multi-sensor cameras, ConteraVMS cloud-enabled video management software, ConteraWS web services, ConteraCMR cloud-managed video recorders, and supporting NVR appliances, lenses, housings, and IR illuminators.
Product overview
AV Costar (Arecont Vision Costar, LLC) offers a Total Video Solution portfolio comprising video surveillance hardware and software. The product portfolio includes MegaIP (single-, dual-, and multi-sensor megapixel cameras), ConteraIP cameras (MicroDome, Outdoor Dome, Micro Bullet, Fisheye, Bullet, and Omni LX series), ConteraVMS (cloud-enabled video management software), ConteraWS (web services), and ConteraCMR (cloud-managed recorders). Supporting products include Network Video Recorders (Contera Micro, Compact, High Performance NVR, and NVR Appliance), lenses, housings, and IR illuminators. All MegaIP cameras feature in-house-developed Massively Parallel Image Processing (MPIP) architecture on FPGA for cybersecurity and upgradability. Products are ONVIF compliant and integrate through a proprietary API.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MegaIP: MegaIP megapixel camera series designed and manufactured in the USA
- ConteraIP
- MegaVideo
- MegaDome
- MicroDome
- SurroundVideo
- MegaView
- ConteraVMS
- ConteraWS
- ConteraCMR
Quantifiable outcome
- 12-megapixel resolution delivers 38-times the resolution of standard definition cameras
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Arecont Vision
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Arecont Vision technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature10 records
Arecont Vision partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Arecont Vision competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Axis Communications: Founded the network camera category and remains one of the largest direct competitors in IP video surveillance. Overlaps directly with AV Costar across megapixel IP cameras, VMS integration, and integrator channels.
- Hanwha Vision: Spun out of Samsung Techwin, Hanwha Vision sells a comparable range of megapixel IP cameras (box, dome, bullet, fisheye, multi-sensor) targeted at the same integrator and end-user surveillance customers.
- Avigilon (Motorola Solutions): High-megapixel IP camera and VMS specialist now within Motorola Solutions; competes head-to-head with AV Costar on multi-sensor panoramic cameras and enterprise surveillance deployments.
- Vivotek: Taiwan-based IP surveillance camera manufacturer with overlapping form factors (dome, bullet, fisheye, multi-sensor) and integrator-focused distribution similar to AV Costar's.
- Pelco: Long-established IP and thermal surveillance camera brand (now under Motorola Solutions). Competes with AV Costar across enterprise, government, and critical-infrastructure deployments.
- IDIS: Korean surveillance manufacturer offering end-to-end camera, NVR, and VMS solutions. Mentioned in AV Costar's own corporate communications and competes for integrator share across the same vertical channels.
Broad incumbents
- Hikvision: Largest global video surveillance vendor across cameras, NVRs, and VMS. Operates at a vastly larger scale than AV Costar but its US-restricted status has reshaped the demand AV Costar targets.
- Dahua Technology: Global surveillance incumbent offering IP cameras, recorders, and integrated platforms at significant scale; competes in the same megapixel IP camera category.
- Bosch Security and Safety Systems: Broad security portfolio spanning IP cameras, VMS, intrusion, and access control. Competes with AV Costar in enterprise and government surveillance, especially where integration with broader security stacks is required.
Others
- Genetec: Leading open-platform VMS provider that integrates with ONVIF-compliant cameras including AV Costar's lineup. Important ecosystem counterpart rather than a direct camera competitor; relevant for assessing the openness of AV Costar's distribution strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Arecont Vision social profiles
Digital presenceArecont Vision financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Arecont Vision leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Arecont Vision funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Arecont Vision M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Arecont Vision
What does Arecont Vision do?
Arecont Vision Costar (AV Costar) designs and manufactures high-performance megapixel IP video surveillance cameras and supporting software for the security industry. The Total Video Solution portfolio includes MegaIP and ConteraIP single-, dual-, and multi-sensor cameras, ConteraVMS cloud-enabled video management software, ConteraWS web services, ConteraCMR cloud-managed video recorders, and supporting NVR appliances, lenses, housings, and IR illuminators.
Is Arecont Vision a public or private company?
Arecont Vision is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Arecont Vision founded?
Arecont Vision was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Arecont Vision based?
Arecont Vision is headquartered in Glendale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Arecont Vision make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Megapixel IP Camera Hardware is the primary driver. The others are video Management Software (ConteraVMS), web Services (ConteraWS), cloud Managed Video Recorders (ConteraCMR) and accessories and Add-ons.
Who are Arecont Vision's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Axis Communications, Hanwha Vision, Avigilon (Motorola Solutions), Vivotek, Pelco and IDIS. Broad incumbents are Hikvision, Dahua Technology and Bosch Security and Safety Systems. Genetec is listed as an others.
Does Arecont Vision have an API?
Yes. AV Costar offers an Arecont Vision Applications Programming Interface (API) for integration with other leading security industry software and hardware. Products can be used individually or integrated through both ONVIF compliance and the proprietary API.
What industry is Arecont Vision in?
Arecont Vision's product category is Video Surveillance Hardware and Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKAGAA, Video Surveillance (CCTV/VMS) System Integration, with a secondary code of HDACAFAG, Webcams & Video Capture Peripherals. Its NAICS code is 3343 and its SIC code is 3861.