European Thin Client manufacturer
Our History
FOUNDING OF THE COMPANY
Georges Cottin founded the company
A company for the development of hardware and system software
A pioneer of information technology...
- 1974 to 1980: Georges Cottin founded the MBC company with a partner and developed the ALCYANE, one of the first microcomputers for company management based on the Intel 8080.
MBC was then sold to the MATRA group, which continued to market it. - 1981: AXEL company founded
Georges Cottin founded the AXEL company and continued to develop the AX20 and AX25 microcomputers for some time.
VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTS
The company continues to develop by producing various “add-on” cards for PCs, particularly for use in multi-user environments.
Change of direction
Several developments are underway in the PC environment:
- Multi-user control cards (V300, V310) for PCs
- Patient monitoring cards for hospitals (CL260) on behalf of HEWLETT PACKARD
- STARLAN network cards for the PROLOGUE environment
- Backup streamer cards (V305) for TANDBERG DATA
BIRTH OF THE "THIN CLIENT" CONCEPT
The “monoblock” terminal is expensive and impractical.
The ingenious idea is to produce a box that contains only the electronics and software of the terminal.
The idea that changes everything!
- Multi-user systems (UNIX, AIX, XENIX, SCO UNIX, PROLOGUE etc.) are in vogue and use serial terminals (Wyse, Qume, DEC).
- Georges Cottin has the idea of focusing on the electronics and software part of the terminal.
- The monitor and keyboard are left to the user's free choice...
- While continuing the development of PC cards (V610, V910), AXEL starts working on this new terminal project.
FOREVER THE FIRST
AXEL produces the first thin client terminal in history.
With RS232 connection and PROLOGUE text emulation.
The thin client was born in France!
- After two years of hardware and software development, the M40 was born.
- It is called "Platine AXEL" because of its deliberately wide, flat and rectangular shape, which allowed it to be positioned under the wide base of the CRT screens of the time.
- The first "thin client", certainly rudimentary, text mode, serial connection, mono emulation, is born.
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES
The concept is adopted for UNIX environments and other emulations such as ANSI, VT220 etc. are intergrated.
Everything for the thin client
The company's activities are entirely focused on the development and manufacture of thin clients that are sold worldwide. New text emulations are integrated:
- ANSI for UNIX, RS600 and XENIX environments
- VT220 for DEC environment
- IBM 3151, QVT, ATO300, THEOS, SM9400, TVI...
FIRST AGAIN...
Why not use the network?
The first TCP/IP Telnet terminal was born at AXEL!
The M50 model is born!
For AXEL, which has developed numerous network add-on cards for PCs, the use of the network is a no-brainer.
- At a time when Novel and others are in vogue, choosing the network type and protocol is not easy.
- AXEL opted for the Ethernet network. In retrospect, TCP/IP and the Telnet protocol were the right choice.
THE YEARS OF DEVELOPMENTS!
AXEL is very well established in the text environment, continues development and starts working on graphics protocols.
The development of text emulations continues, but the implementation of graphics protocols is what keeps our development teams most busy.
- Development of IBM 5250 and 3270 emulations.
- Development of the VNC protocol for UNIX and Linux environments.
- Development of the RDP protocol in collaboration with the Microsoft RDP protocol teams.
- Then the development of the ICA protocol in collaboration with the Citrix protocol teams.
GRAPHICS IS COMING!
The first versions of AXEL's graphical thin clients come onto the market.
VNC, RDP and ICA are implemented.
In 2000, AXEL celebrated its 200,000th thin client.
The launch of the M65, M70 and M75 models enabled the use of graphical protocols.
- 2000: First AXEL thin client with VNC protocol.
- 2002: First AXEL thin client with RDP protocol.
- 2005: First AXEL thin client with ICA protocol.
MORE PROCESSOR POWER...
To meet user demands, thin clients need to become more powerful.
Presentation of the M80 and M85 models
- 2008: The M80 model surprises and delights with its very small format (more than 150,000 devices sold).
- 2009: The M85 thin client is on the market.
- The milestone of 500,000 Axel thin clients has been exceeded...
EVEN MORE PERFORMANCE
The need for graphic performance is increasing.
We need new, even more efficient products...
The M9X series is launched
Integration of H264 video protocols etc...
- 2015: Release of the M90 model.
- 2017: Release of the M95 model.
Security is becoming increasingly important and the development of encryption protocols keeps our teams busy.
TRANSITION TO A NEW GENERATION OF DEVICES
After almost 10 years of existence, the M9x series is being replaced by the G10 and G15 models.
A new range of thin clients!
After 3 years of development, new products are added to the catalogue. The M90 and M95 models are replaced because their processors will soon no longer be able to meet the increasing demands.
- The G10, which takes the shape of the M80 with a new look.
- The G15 in a robust metal case (like the M75, M85, and M95 models).