By John Bugailiskis, AT CES
LAS VEGAS – Cisco Systems Inc. is moving quickly to expand its business beyond Internet and IT networks by unveiling a bevy of new products at the CES aimed at extending its reach from inside the network into people's lives.
Touting its "visual networking" concept, Cisco launched new television set-top boxes (8500HDC), a new IP "Home Gateway" offering, a new DOCSIS 3.0-compliant cable modem (which Cisco says can deliver speeds up to 100 Mbps) and a new triple-play router along with a host of other Linksys consumer offerings.
"Video is the next wave of Internet disruption," said Cisco's chairman and CEO John Chambers at CES. "Together with our partners, we are expanding the human network to create compelling visual networking experiences by connecting consumers to digital content in ways never before possible."
Its next-generation cable set-top boxes and OpenCable applications are tailored to offer Internet and premium content services on consumer TVs. IP NGN set-tops can deliver services ranging from data, voice and video to different screens like TVs, PCs, game stations, and other devices.
Cisco chose the term visual networking because it captures the concept that people are not just simply watching "TV" anymore, and that video is now becoming the keystone to the Internet and other communications and entertainment services said Bob McIntyre, chief technical officer of Cisco's service provider group.
“A cable company like Comcast or a "phone" company like AT&T, are now offering multimedia TV services that can tie together with all kinds of other content and devices. At the center of all those services is video. We're really at the beginning of this exploration as more and more TV service providers use Internet protocol technologies to run their video networks.
“By tying TV video with Internet-based networks, it is much easier for TV service providers to offer such things as video-on-demand and digital video recording so people can watch what they want, when they want. Plus, these companies are also providing new ways people can bring all the great content from the Internet to the TV, so you can use your plasma screen TV to watch your favorite YouTube video or perhaps show off your latest family photos to relatives.
“So we've been working with service providers to develop a type of product that not only takes care of the broadband connection but also helps connect that Internet link with all kinds of other devices in the house, including the TV, music players, gaming consoles and much more. Our first gateway products will be rolled out in early 2008. The ultimate aim of the gateway is to make it easier for people to connect the Internet and its myriad of content and services to all of their devices in the home.
He says the gateway is very appealing to TV service providers and calls it a sort of a “friendly Trojan Horse.”
“Because once the gateway is installed, it gives the service provider the means to offer a far greater variety of entertainment and communication services. So that's one concept that's come to the forefront over the last 12 months,” says McIntyre.
Cisco is leveraging its acquisition of set-top manufacturer Scientific Atlanta to create home-grown media solutions and content delivery system. Its visual networking initiative refers to people being able to find and share video with their social network.
"In the past, it's been about mostly disconnected devices," said Ken Wirt, vice-president of consumer marketing for Cisco. "But to meet consumers' needs in this visual networking world, the devices have to be connected, and you need a system that takes content through the service provider network into the home network and onto the device. If you don't have that entire system optimized, people will have a bad experience."
The announcements further solidify Cisco’s goal to move beyond supporting carriers and to target the end consumer.
"The 8500HDC DVR is vastly improved and has new features that surpass the PC you bought two years ago," said Bob McIntyre, chief technical officer of Cisco's service provider group, in a statement.
Elsewhere, Cisco unveiled its new IP Services Gateway (DRG2800), which it says consolidates network-based and home-based applications in one device. With this product, consumers can use their set-top and large-screen, flat-panel televisions to watch videos, listen to downloaded music in surround sound, and view photos accessed from their PC.
"The Cisco IP Services Gateway represents a significant inflection point where consumers can use a single device to access both the Internet and all of its user-generated content, and the service providers' managed video content network," said JT Taylor, director of product marketing at Cisco's Scientific Atlanta subsidiary.
“Our new IP Services Gateway is part of Cisco's consumer initiative to create compelling visual networking experiences where streaming digital video technology and social networking merge. It's not that you are connected. People worldwide are connected. It's what you do with the connection. Our focus now includes distribution of the next wave of consumer visual and multimedia networking experiences,” she explains.
Evaluation/test units are scheduled to be available to service provider customers by the end of first quarter in 2008.
Cisco’s new DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem offering, the Cisco Channel-Bonded Cable Modem, Model DPC3000 boosts access to on-demand services, delivers feature-rich entertainment and communication capabilities, and also lets service providers optimize existing bandwidth.
Cisco's Linksys subsidiary announced the Wireless-G Broadband Router with two phone Ports, also known as the WRP400. Linksys says the WRP400 is "an ideal addition" for consumers and SOHOs that want to make the most of triple-play networking capabilities, along with service providers interested in broadening their networking offerings.
Linksys is taking advantage of Cisco's established networks with its new Linksys Media Center Extenders, which link with most major manufacturers to stream video to consumer electronics devices scattered throughout homes as well as to devices outside homes.
For example, Linksys' new Media Center Extender with DVD Player (DMA2200) and Media Center Extender (DMA2100) operate with existing Linksys routers, storage systems and home monitoring cameras. “The key to the success of the Linksys Media Center Extenders lies in our home networking expertise, particularly Dual-Band Wireless-N,” said Greg Memo, vice president and general manager of Linksys Consumer Business Organization.
The $120.00 Linksys Wireless-G Internet Home Monitoring Camera with Audio connects over 802.11g wireless networks or over 10/100 Ethernet cable and enables the transmission of password protected video streams beyond the immediate networks.
Linksys also unveiled a new version of its Linksys EasyLink Advisor, aimed at making the set up and control of home networks and devices easy. The new version features live technical support over an embedded WebEx client.
Cartt.ca consumer electronics editor John Bugailiskis is in Las Vegas this week covering the Consumer Electronics Show.
