Video networking was a major theme on the first day of the Cisco Systems C-Scape Conference, as company executives outlined their strategy and vision for the future of networking.
Cisco has designs to be a significant player in the video on demand as well as IP TV transmission markets, and it intends to revive the moribund video conferencing market with its recently launched Cisco Telepresence next-generation video conferencing technology.
“Telepresence is my favorite new technology. It will save me $140 million off our run rate on travel next year,” said CEO John Chambers in his talk at the conference on Dec. 12.
Chambers is so bullish on its promise that Cisco will roll out the technology to 120 sites in 2007. “It will change way we collaborate and allow us to communicate as effectively [as being in the same room] or more when people are not changing time zones,” he said.
Chief development officer and president of the Linksys unit Charlie Giancarlo in his talk echoed Chambers optimistic remarks on video networking.
“We may get to be known as a video company,” he said.
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