Cisco has been ordered to pay $70 million in civil fraud damages to XpertUniverse after a failed partnership. Cisco was also fined for infringing on two patents held by the other company that have to do with offering the ability to contact experts online to answer questions. The patent infringement resulted in fines of over $33,000.

The trial in the case lasted two weeks and stems from a suit filed in 2009. XpertUniverse claimed during the trial that officials at Cisco strung them along for over six months with the possibility of a lucrative partnership without unveiling that Cisco had actually already rejected the deal. XpertUniverse alleged “fraudulent concealment” in the lawsuit and the legal team for the company said during the case that Cisco’s actions “led to the destruction of the company.”

Cisco says that it already intends to appeal and believes that the evidence presented during the trial doesn’t support the verdict rendered. Cisco also notes that the judge has a number of issues to consider to determine whether or not the jury verdict will stand. The XpertUniverse legal team says that it is happy the client has been vindicated.

[via Bloomberg]

Belkin, obviously, will continue the Linksys brand post-acquisition, and it doesn’t sound like much will be changing for current Linksys customers. Belkin will offer support for the Linksys line, and it says in its announcement that it will honor all valid warranties on “current and future” Linksys products. So, it sounds like the only thing changing for Linksys consumers is the switch from Cisco to Belkin.

After this deal closes, Belkin says it will have a 30% share in the home networking market all to itself, which is certainly nothing to scoff at. This is also the beginning of a strategic relationship for Belkin and Cisco, as the two will now team up to tackle things like retail distribution and marketing. So, not only are the two making a pretty big deal, but they’re also coming out the other end as buddies.

As is usually the case, the terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Despite that, it wouldn’t surprise us in the least to hear that Belkin has paid a pretty penny for Cisco’s home networking arm. Belkin expects the deal to close sometime in March 2013, so it shouldn’t be very long until your Linksys products are handled by Belkin.

Of course, the news and rumors never stop, and with one show behind us, it’s time to begin looking toward the next one, with new whispers claiming that Huawei will unveil a new 8-core processor and a new P-Series phone at MWC 2013. The HTC M7 and Sense 5 UI suffered another leak today, and we heard that Facebook is testing a new $100 charge to message strangers. The CST-01 watch hit its Kickstarter funding goal in just 48 hours, with HP and Lenovo facing a tough battle in the PC sales space in Q4 2012.

The Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 has landed at AT&T for $199, and iOS hacker Pod2g has launched PodDJ for iPad. Nokia has confirmed that HTTPS traffic is temporarily decrypted on its servers, and a new Windows RT jailbreak is getting some potential Surface homebrewers excited. There’s also new hack that could turn Cisco desk phones into a way to secretly listen in on conversations you probably shouldn’t be hearing, which is very unsettling news indeed.

The Nexus 4 is getting updates to Jelly Bean 4.2.2 in some countries, and Mojang said today that Minecraft sold more than 15 million copies across all platforms in 2012. Black Ops II was unsurprisingly declared the best-selling game of 2012, while the Xbox 360 has the distinction of being the best-selling console for two years running. Of course, we have plenty of hands-on posts from CES 2013 that went up today, including looks at the Pentax MX-1 digital camera, the Moen MotionSense Touch-Free Faucet, a pair of Galaxy S III cases from Pelican, Ion Scratch 2, Vizio’s new Windows 8 Tablet, and finally, the company’s upcoming Windows 8 all-in-ones and notebooks. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, we hope you enjoy the weekend everyone!

Cisco’s warning came after security experts demonstrated how people that have physical access to the phone could execute malicious code allowing eavesdropping. Cisco plans to release a software patch later this month to plug the security hole. The vulnerability has been confirmed to affect several models of desk phones in the CiscoUnified IP Phone 7900 series.

Cisco has also confirmed that the security vulnerability can be exploited remotely over a corporate network. However, Cisco has already issued workarounds that makes those attacks more difficult to execute. The security researchers who discovered the vulnerability are Ang Cui and Salvatore Solfo from Columbia University’s engineering department.

Details of the vulnerability were presented at the 29th Chaos Communications Congress. The hack was demonstrated using a device that connects to the local serial port of the Cisco phone. Once the device was attached to the phone it was able to inject attack code giving the attacker control over the device. The attack allows the hacker to monitor phone calls and turn on the phone’s microphone unbeknownst to people nearby. Cisco has promised to rewrite the underlying firmware to eliminate this vulnerability. Check out the video below to see the researchers outlining the hack.

[via ArsTechnica]

Bloomberg, with TV manufacturers expected to be among those interested given the increasing role the internet plays in home entertainment.

However, while the Linksys brand is well-established, that’s not to say it will be guaranteed a high selling price. The competitive nature of the home networking market, along with its maturity, means expectations for the sale are low; Cisco is unlikely to see anywhere near the $500m it paid for Linksys back in 2003, the sources warn.

Even with a loss on the cards, the sale would play into Cisco’s over-arching strategy. The company apparently hopes to pull out of consumer businesses and instead focus on software and services for corporate and enterprise clients.

Neither Cisco nor Barclays would comment on the rumor, though it’s not the first time the financial institution has been connected with a home electronics firm sale of late. Google is believed to have engaged Barclays to locate a buyer for the set-top box (STB) division of Motorola, which it acquired – and apparently does not want to keep – as part of its acquisition of Motorola.

Barclays is believed to have already found two potential suitors for Motorola’s STV business, though none of the firms involved have publicly confirmed their involvement. For Linksys, despite Cisco’s ambitious plans, it never managed to fully subsume the brand into its own. As far back as 2007, executives were talking about phasing out the Linksys name in favor of Cisco.

“Meraki’s cloud networking solutions will expand Cisco’s network offerings by providing scalable solutions for midmarket businesses” Cisco said in a statement about the deal. “The Meraki acquisition will also strengthen Cisco’s Unified Access platform, which makes IT more responsive to business innovation by simplifying IT operations and uniting wired and wireless networks, policy and management into one integrated network infrastructure, unlike other competitive offerings.”

The shift to focus more closely on the mid-range enterprise is part of Cisco’s attempt to broaden its potential customer base, amid a more challenging business marketplace and growing prevalence of cloud-based providers. Meraki’s technology centralizes features such as WiFi, mobile device management, and security control for users in the cloud, and can be used with company-provided devices or users’ own, for local networks, with firewalls, guest access, and more.

It comes just a few days after Cisco revealed it would acquire Cloupia in a $125m deal, the little-known company a provider of converged data center infrastructure software. The company’s tools allow “enterprises and service providers to simplify the deployment and configuration of physical and virtual resources from a single management console” Cisco says, further streamlining the process.

The Meraki acquisition is expected to close in Q2 of fiscal 2013, regulatory approval allowing, as is the Cloupia deal.

According to earlier leaks, the Cisco-branded hardware – initially produced under license by ZTE, as a way of reducing costs and becoming more competitive against Huawei in China and other markets in Asia, though from 2010 simply resold by ZTE – had been discovered on a July 2011 parts supply list in a deal between ZTE and an Iranian telecommunications company. ZTE had apparently agreed to supply five Cisco switches to a part of the consortium controlling the company.

An FBI investigation was triggered after ZTE’s own general counsel for its US subsidiary accused the parent company of attempting to cover up the Iranian deal, including destroying evidence. He was subsequently put on administrative leave.

“ZTE is highly concerned with the matter and is communicating with Cisco” spokesperson David Dai Shu said of the US company’s decision. “At the same time, ZTE is actively cooperating with the US government about the probe to Iran. We believe it will be properly addressed.”

Cisco, meanwhile, declined to comment specifically on the ZTE deal. However, CEO John Chambers did say that Cisco would not “tolerate any direct or indirect sales” of its hardware to Iran, “and when that occurs, we step up and deal with it very firmly. So I think you can assume that you will not see that happen again.”

ZTE and Huewei have found themselves at the center of a security scare in the US, with the House Intelligence Committee releasing a report today that recommends US businesses do not use hardware from either firm, out of concerns that the Chinese government could subsequently petition for access. Meanwhile, the Committee, a bipartisan group of Republicans and Democrats, has advised that regulators block any attempts by ZTE or Huawei at mergers and acquisitions in the US. Both companies deny the allegations.

Cisco say that the default option for routers will be to use local browser settings instead of the Connect Cloud service. Not only that, but the company has simplified the opt-out process for the service and clarified that users don’t need a Connect Cloud login to access their router settings. Cisco also clarified the privacy concerns, saying that it won’t “arbitrarily disconnect customers from the internet,” and that it doesn’t collect or store personal information of any kind.

The only information that’s sent back to Cisco is what’s needed to signup and login for the Connect Cloud service. It looks like Cisco really wants to drive this point home, as it was a major point of contention for customers when the firmware update went live. Finally, the company confirms that firmware updates won’t be pushed to routers if the automatic update setting is turned off.

In addition to all of that, Cisco rolled out a privacy policy to support the new cloud service, granting Cisco the rights to check some components of users’ activity, including Internet history. Of course, the complaints started rolling in on online forums with regards to both the firmware update and the privacy policy.

Cisco has since released a statement apologizing for the two problems and removing some of the controversial content in the privacy policy. It’s been updated to say: “Cisco may collect and store detailed information regarding your network configuration and usage for the purpose of providing you technical networking support.”

As for the router update problem, instructions on how to downgrade firmware was posted by an administrator in the Cisco forums, which includes steps on how to opt out of receiving automatic upgrades again in the future.

[via Engadget]

Another big announcement Cisco made today was the availability of Cisco Connect Cloud for Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers–a software platform that allows you to remotely manage your home wireless network from your computer, Android or iPhone. It works with new Cisco EA series routers and existing EA routers with updated firmware. After setting up an account, Cloud Developers can also write and create apps so that other devices can be managed when connected to the home network.

Six developers have been set up already for the start of a new Linksys Developer Community, which was launched to encourage more apps for people that need help managing their home networks. The community will offer resources like SDKs, tutorials and samples. Cisco has also joined up with major appliance companies like Whirpool to help create a home environment with more devices supported by Wi-Fi connectivity.

This could definitely be the start of a completely connected home in which all appliances and major devices are entirely automated through the home Wi-Fi network.

The official announcement came via an official Cisco blog. SVP OJ Winge wrote, “Cisco will no longer invest in the Cisco Cius tablet form factor, and no further enhancements will be made to the current Cius endpoint beyond what’s available today. However, as we evaluate the market further, we will continue to offer Cius in a limited fashion to customers with specific needs or use cases.”

Factors that set the Cius apart included that it came pre-loaded with Cisco software such as WebEx, Cisco Quad, Cisco Show, and a proprietary messaging app. The device also suppored Cisco Telepresence video conferencing. The company still wants to be a part of the tablet space, but it simply will bow out of the hardware aspect. “We will leverage key learnings and key collaboration experiences native to Cius in our other collaboration products,” Winge said.

[via VentureBeat]

“Imagine how difficult it would be if you were limited to calling people who only use the same carrier or if your phone could only call certain brands and not others” De Beer suggests. Cisco’s fear, it seems, is that Microsoft will integrate Skype into its Lync Enterprise Communications Platform, and thus lock in enterprise customers.

Although Cisco’s home teleconferencing system, Umi, was killed off recently, the company still has a significant footprint in business video communications, and the prospect of Microsoft – even though it is a client of Cisco’s – trampling all over that with an all-conquering Skype/Lync combo has it worried.

“This appeal is about one thing only: securing standards-based interoperability in the video calling space. Our goal is to make video calling as easy and seamless as  email is today. Making a video-to-video call should be as easy as dialing a phone number. Today, however, you can’t make seamless video calls from one platform to another, much to the frustration of consumers and business users alike” Marthin De Beer, Cisco

What Cisco hopes is that the EC will demand Microsoft make its video conferencing system adopt open standards, meaning companies using Cisco – or other vendors’ – hardware will still be able to place and receive video calls. While it’s easy to dismiss De Beer’s fears as finger-pointing at Microsoft, it’s undoubtedly in users’ best interests to have systems that can talk with each other rather than which sit in blocked-off silos.

“While we are ending the sale of Umi, the Umi service remains unchanged” the spokesperson clarified. “Existing customers will continue to be able to use the service to make calls to other Umi subscribers or to Google video chat accounts.”

Outlandish pricing of both the hardware and ongoing subscription fees, as well as an apparent blindness to the rest of the video conferencing market seemed destined to scupper Umi’s chances. Cisco launched it at $599, then slashed the price by $100 in March last year as well as trimming service charges dramatically: down from $24.99 per month to just $9.99. Meanwhile a lower-resolution Umi 720 was launched, priced at $399.

With Skype offering subscription-free video calls, however, and a growing number of laptops, tablets, desktops and smartphones offering HD-capable webcams, even “cheaper” didn’t prove as tempting as “free.”

The bridge supports WiFi a/b/g/n and has a trio of antennas inside its black plastic chassis. All the usual encryption types are offered, along with WPS for easier setup, and Linksys is pretty keen on its quality-of-service software which promises stutter-free HD video.

If all that sounds alluring then the Linksys WES610N is available now, priced at $129.99. The company also offers a different version, the WET610N, which has the same wireless connectivity but offers only a single 10/100 ethernet port; you lose on sockets, but you save $30.

Around 2,100 of the staff losses will be through voluntary early retirement, which Cisco has already negotiated with its employees. Those redundancies in the US, Canada and “select countries” will be announced in the first week of August, with the remainder worldwide to be revealed at a later, unspecified date.

While cost-cutting is Cisco’s stated intention, the downsizing will cost it significantly. Overall, the combination of redundancies and early retirement offers are expected to exceed $1.3bn over the course of 2011 and 2012, with the bulk in Q4 this year. It won’t be the only cost-cutting the company attempts, either: Cisco has warned of other restructuring charges incoming as a result of its attempts to “simplify the organization, refine operations, and reduce annual operations expenses.”

Whether that – or the expensive, $799 Cius tablet – will be sufficient to turn around Cisco’s financial future as a whole remains to be seen.

[via Telecoms]

Lets start from the end: Spotify is a music streaming service that you can purchase a $10 subscription to, it allowing you unlimited use of their fantastically gigantic library of songs through your computer and your mobile device. Today we learn that there’s more to it than that: a whole Spotify ecosystem is in the works including Sonos, Motorola, and more! On a sort of similar tip, Microsoft has leaked its Tulalip social network plans – any match for Facebook and G+? That remains to be seen. Then just to throw you for a loop, check out some soft memory developed recently with the consistency of Jell-O. Yuck!

And what about that robot? It’s a gigantic Android! And it’s coming right at you! In some rather concerning news, Sony Ericsson has decided to blame Japan’s earthquakes on big Q2 losses. Maybe they should figure out how to harness time cloaking – a hole in time! Meanwhile the Pentagon has – oops – lost 24,000 files in a major network breach – kevin!

On the Apple front we’ve got news that the Apple A6 chip is in test production while TSMC keeps its heart set on taking Samsung’s job in this sector. On a very similar tip, a 3D Apple A6 CPU has been tipped while iPhone 5 overheat reports become more than just a whisper.

Google CEO Larry Page insists their swelling threats of IP litigation are not a problem and Google Games is discovered basically the same way Google+ was. Cisco Cius gets 4G LTE with Verison and the NYPD get electric cars – specifically – Volt!

That makes it pretty much the same as any WiFi-enabled tablet: you could easily pair an iPad 2 or BlackBerry PlayBook with a Verizon hotspot (or, indeed, the hotspot feature found on many smartphones) and get online at 4G speeds. This seems to be more of an enterprise and commercial announcement for the carrier, flagging up that they too will be offering the slate, not just AT&T.

Pricing for the Verizon model isn’t clear, though earlier reports suggested a roughly $700 to $750 tag. That may sound like a lot for a 7-inch slate in comparison to the Apple tablet or, indeed, any of the various Android-based models around today, but then again it does come with some business-centric functionality like voice, video, collaboration and virtualization capabilities.

[via Android Community]

Unlike the majority of tablets on the market aimed at consumers for media consumption, entertainment, and light productivity, the Cisco Cius will be all business. Instead of just putting up an app store for the device like Apple’s iTunes, Cisco intends to create an online service called AppHQ where companies can get custom apps tailored for their enterprises. Companies will also be able to setup custom-branded app “storefronts” for employees to download apps for the Cius.

Initial partners and interested parties include medical institutions where custom apps and enterprise level security is important for handling confidential patient records. Cisco has revealed pricing for the Cius to be around $750, although an introductory promotion could drop it down to $700. The tablet is scheduled to arrive on July 31.

[via WSJ]

With the Flip cameras gone, it will come as little shock that Cisco is also limiting the FlipShare service that allows the user of Flip camcorders to upload and share videos with other users. Rather than just pulling the plug this time, Cisco is giving users of the service the notice that all new videos will last only 30-days from when they are uploaded. That is a bit confusing if you don’t follow closely. Cisco isn’t ending the FlipShare service and you won’t lose your videos uploaded right away.

Apparently, Cisco will continue to support the FlipShare service for another two and a half years. The 30-day limit means that you can upload videos, but you better save them somewhere else too because after that 30-day window they will be removed from FlipShare. I would expect that most users that upload lots of video files will simply find another service and that it probably what Cisco is hoping will happen.

[via Engadget]

The product had been quite popular at one time with many celebrities toting around Flip cams, but with the onslaught of smartphone cameras—now boasting up to 1080p full HD along with instant sharing capabilities via WiFi and data plans, plus almost every other feature you can imagine—even the promising FlipLive WiFi-enabled camera is a step too late. On flip side, Flip die-hards feel there is still hope for the brand and the product, but that Cisco is simply giving up.

1. HTC Sensation
HTC Sensation hands-on [Video]
HTC Sensation offers just 1GB of 4GB ROM to users
HTC Sensation Benchmarks with SunSpider and Quadrant
HTC Sense 3.0 UI Only For New Devices, Not Completely True

2. Cisco Flip cam
Cisco Stops Flip Video Production
Why Cisco Shut Down the Flip Business
FlipLive dead as Cisco pulls plug on Flip line

3. Apple announces Final Cut Pro X
Apple Unveils Final Cut Pro X, Now 64-Bit Awesomeness

4. Microsoft first preview of Internet Explorer 10
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 First Preview

5. Windows 8 leaked
Windows 8 Early Version LEAKS

6. Windows App Store screen shot leaked
Screenshots of Windows 8 App Store leak

7. Mango update
Microsoft Reveals Details of Mango

8. Angry Birds To be on WP7
Angry Birds For Windows Phone 7 Launching May 25th
Angry Birds To Get Game Syncing Across All Platforms

9. IFA 2011 Global Press Conference

10. T-Mobile G2x unboxing and hands-on

Featured Column:
Is An App Store-Equipped Apple HDTV A Game Changer?
What is Personal Computing in the Post PC Era?

Reviews:
Looxcie Bluetooth Video Camera Review with an HTC ThunderBolt

SlashGear 101:
What is the Sony NGP?
What is Android 3.0 Honeycomb?
And more!

Giveaways Reminder:
1. Motorola XOOM, contest ends April 24!
2. BlackBerry PlayBook, contest ends Tomorrow (April 1)!
BlackBerry PlayBook Review Roundup

The New York Times’ David Pogue is talking a bit about the decision of Cisco to kill the brand. As he points out, it has only been two years since Cisco bought the brand. The purchase cost Cisco $590 million. Many people thought the smartphones we all carry around that can record HD video was the cause. Pogue reckons there is more to it that that with the relatively small portion of the country that actually uses a smartphone that can record video.

Another strange fact about the death of the Flip brand is that Pogue says that only a month ago he was briefed on the next production in the line, which was set to land yesterday. So as of a month ago Cisco was still full steam ahead on the Flip brand. What could change so much in 30 days? It comes down to this for David Pogue; Cisco wanted the Flip tech more than it wanted the Flip brand. That really makes sense considering that Cisco has all sorts of video conferencing tech in its core networking business. That would explain in a very tidy package why Cisco killed the brand rather than selling it off. The tech was worth the $590 million they paid.

[via NYT]

This included not only the Pure Digital team which started and successfully built the Flip business but also the retail and channel relationship’s Pure Digital had acquired. There may have been some technology aspirations with Cisco’s networking efforts but the consumer expertise Flip brought to Cisco was the real value.

That being said the shutting down of the Flip business by Cisco shows how difficult it is to succeed in consumer markets. Especially when consumers aren’t your core business. Cisco has made a comfortable living as a solutions provider for networking infrastructure. How you orient and design your business to go after certain verticals is no trivial thing and Cisco was built to sell to big business not to consumers.

The move also shows the declining market for stand alone video camera’s. In a world where technology is being integrated at a rapid level into nearly everything we touch stand alone devices are falling by the way side. Could this be a sign for E-Readers?

One other element factoring into the decision is what several other analysts have speculated around the desire for Cisco to begin a renewed focus on their core markets. Cisco has seen their core business threatened by HP in particular. By returning resources back to the core business Cisco can begin to ward of threats with a renewed focus and vigor.

We have seen time and time again in this industry how hard it is to be successful selling to both enterprises and consumers. The tried and true strategy continues to be: Focus on a customer base and build your business to cater to their needs.

In a press release sent out to press today, Cisco has noted that they’ll be moving on five “key company priorities,” core routing, switching and services, collaboration, architectures, and yes, video. This appears to be part of a much more grand scheme and not just a ratatat on the single brand. Instead it seems that Cisco is moving toward supporting their enterprise and service provider customers in turn expand their offerings for consumers.

What does that mean for you? Not a whole lot unless you planned on purchasing a Flip camera in the near future – you’ll probably be able to pick up a cheap one now! And those of you who already have one, again, will continue to receive support as you keep on flipping. Check out the full press release below:

Apr 12, 2011 08:30 ET
Cisco Restructures Consumer Business

SAN JOSE, CA–(Marketwire – April 12, 2011) –  As part of the company’s comprehensive plan to align its operations, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced that it will exit aspects of its consumer businesses and realign the remaining consumer business to support four of its five key company priorities — core routing, switching and services; collaboration; architectures; and video. As part of its plan, Cisco will:

• Close down its Flip business and support current FlipShare customers and partners with a transition plan.
• Refocus Cisco’s Home Networking business for greater profitability and connection to the company’s core networking infrastructure as the network expands into a video platform in the home. These industry-leading products will continue to be available through retail channels.
• Integrate Cisco umi into the company’s Business TelePresence product line and operate through an enterprise and service provider go-to-market model, consistent with existing business TelePresence efforts.
• Assess core video technology integration of Cisco’s Eos media solutions business or other market opportunities for this business.
“We are making key, targeted moves as we align operations in support of our network-centric platform strategy,” said John Chambers, Cisco chairman and CEO. “As we move forward, our consumer efforts will focus on how we help our enterprise and service provider customers optimize and expand their offerings for consumers, and help ensure the network’s ability to deliver on those offerings.” 

In connection with the changes to the consumer business, it is anticipated that Cisco will recognize restructuring charges to its GAAP financial results, with an aggregate pre-tax impact not expected to exceed $300 million during the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2011. The charges will be disclosed in upcoming earnings conference calls and quarterly Form 10-Q filings. Additionally, the company expects this will result in a reduction of approximately 550 employees in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. 

About Cisco 
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the company’s plan to align its operations in support of its network-centric platform strategy, Cisco’s consumer focus going forward, the maximum size of the anticipated restructuring charges, and expected employee reductions. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors, including, among other things, how well we execute on our strategy and operating plans, business and economic conditions and growth trends in the networking industry, customer markets and various geographic regions, global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment and other risk factors set forth in Cisco’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based on limited information currently available to Cisco, which is subject to change, and Cisco will not necessarily update the information. 

The E3200 and E2500 both support simultaneous 2.4/5.0 GHz use as well, with the E3200 having 2×3 and the E2500 having 2×2 antennas. Only the E3200 gets gigabit ethernet and a USB port; the E2500 makes do with four 10/100 ports. The E1500 and E1200 bring up the rear, finally, with single 2.4GHz support and four 10/100 ethernet. Full specs in the gallery below.

Prices of the switches, meanwhile, range from $29.99 to $74.99. The cheapest is the SE1500, with five 10/100 ports, while the SE2500 has five gigabit ports and the SE2800 has eight gigabit ports. Again, specs in the gallery below. All new models are available from today.

Press Release:

Cisco Announces Next-Generation Linksys Wireless Routers and Switches

Home Wireless Leader Unveils Sleek New Design with Unmatched Performance for Premium Video, Gaming, and Entertainment Experiences

San Francisco, CA April 5, 2011 – Cisco® today continued its legacy of leadership in home networking with the launch of its new Linksys® E-Series family − a complete suite of powerful and easy-to-use next-generation wireless-n routers and switches. With sales of wireless-enabled products such as tablets and game consoles steadily growing and Internet video usage exploding, consumers are seeking greater performance, reliability and simplicity from their home wireless networks. The new Linksys wireless–n routers and switches, available today, offer a complete range of options that set a new standard for speed, range, and ease-of-use, while also sporting a visually-appealing new design.

The new Linksys E-Series lineup includes five routers, each with the latest technology in home wireless for a multitude of home entertainment experiences. The new routers not only provide the performance needed for today’s connected home, but also help to future-proof for new and emerging media technologies that are gaining traction with consumers, such as Internet-enabled TVs and Cisco’s ūmi telepresence. Designed with faster speeds (up to 450 Mbps*), other key features for select routers in the line include a 3×3 spatial stream configuration for improved coverage, external power amplifiers to maintain signal strength over a greater distance and reduce dead spots, and virtual USB technology** to connect USB printers, storage and devices to the network. The full line also boasts a new industrial design that combines sleek contours and advanced functionality − recently earning the prestigious 2011 Red Dot Product Design Award for product design, innovation and quality.

“With more than 70 million routers sold, Linksys brings a decade of leadership and innovation to create products that consumers trust for the best wireless quality, performance and experience,” said Simon Fleming-Wood, vice president of marketing, Cisco Consumer Products. “Our new Linksys line offers an array of solutions for the needs of today’s home networking consumer – from basic Internet surfing to video and music streaming, to gaming.”
According to industry research group IDC, only 39% of US homes have wireless, while only 11% are using wireless-n technology. Over the next five years wireless-n adoption is expected to nearly double due to the growth of wireless connected devices such as tablets, smartphones, and Internet-enabled TVs that require the latest wireless technology for optimal performance. (IDC, Worldwide Home Networking 2010-2014 Forecast Update, Doc.# 225479, Nov. 2010)

Cisco Connect Software Enables Easy Setup and Network Management
Each of the Linksys E-series routers include the acclaimed Cisco Connect software that makes it easy for consumers to set up and manage their wireless home network effortlessly. Unlike other wireless products that require 20 to 30 complicated steps to set up a single computer, Cisco Connect takes you through three simple steps from start to finish. The included Cisco Connect software makes it easy to: 1) add additional devices to the network, 2) set parental controls, 3) provide Internet access for guests on a separate guest network and 4) customize personal security settings such as passwords. Advanced users can also configure and manage their routers via the web browser.

The new routers feature the latest version of Cisco Connect, which now includes an Internet Speed Test that can check the bandwidth and speed of a user’s Internet connection.

New Switches Enable Easy Network Expansion and Power Saving Modes
The three new Linksys switches enable faster and simpler wired connections. New features include plug and play of Ethernet-enabled devices, Quality of Service (QoS) for traffic prioritization, auto-sensing ports, and power saving features.

Pricing and Availability
There are eight new products in the Linksys family — five routers and three switches. The suggested retail prices for the routers range from $59.99 to $179.99. Prices of the switches range from $29.99 to $74.99. The full line of Linksys routers and switches are available starting today at retailers nationwide or by visiting the Linksys website at www.linksys.com/store.

Linksys SE1500 5-Port Fast Ethernet Switch
• Instantly add up to 5 office and entertainment devices to expand your home network without any configuration required.
o Performance:
• 5 Ethernet ports allow you to connect multiple devices with optimum speed.
• Wired connection speed up to 100 Mbps
• Cable connect detection saves power by automatically powering down any unused ports.
o Features:
• Quality of Service traffic prioritizing technology delivers high performance allowing smooth video streaming and gaming.
• Auto-sensing ports automatically optimize speed for each connected device.
• LED status lights on each port
o Available:
• Starting at all major retail and online etailers on April 5
• $29.99 MSRP.

Linksys SE2500 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch
• Instantly add up to 5 office and entertainment devices such as HDTV’s, game consoles, media players, and more with the benefits of Gigabit speeds and without any configuration required.
o Performance:
• 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports allow you to connect multiple devices with improved speed up to 10x faster than standard Ethernet.
• Wired connection speed up to 1000 Mbps
• Cable connect detection saves power by automatically powering down any unused ports.
o Features:
• Auto-sensing ports automatically optimize speed for each connected device.
• LED status lights on each port controlled by port status switch.
• Quality of Service traffic prioritizing technology delivers high performance allowing smooth video streaming and gaming.
• Cable connect detection automatically calibrates the minimum amount of power necessary while maintaining performance according to your cable length.
• Smart Power technology automatically calibrates the minimum amount of power necessary while maintaining performance according to your cable length.
• Cable connect detection saves power by automatically powering down any unused ports or go into sleep mode if all ports are inactive.
o Available:
• Starting at all major retail and online etailers on April 5
• $54.99 MSRP.

Linksys SE2800 Switches 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch
• Instantly add up to 8 office and entertainment devices with the benefits of Gigabit speed to maximize gaming, video streaming, and file and media sharing- all without any configuration required.
o Performance:
• 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports improve speed up to 10x faster than standard Ethernet perfect for quick file and media sharing between Gigabit devices.
• Wired connection speed up to 1000 Mbps
• Cable connect detection saves power by automatically powering down any unused ports.
o Features:
• Auto-sensing ports automatically optimize speed for each connected device.
• LED status lights on each port controlled by port status switch.
• Quality of Service traffic prioritizing technology delivers high performance allowing smooth video streaming and gaming.
• Cable connect detection automatically calibrates the minimum amount of power necessary while maintaining performance according to your cable length.
• Smart Power technology automatically calibrates the minimum amount of power necessary while maintaining performance according to your cable length.
• Cable connect detection saves power by automatically powering down any unused ports or go into sleep mode if all ports are inactive.
o Available:
• Starting at all major retail and online etailers on April 5
• $74.99 MSRP.

Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Dual-Band Wireless-N Router

The E4200 is the highest performing router on the market for the home that is ideal for the most intensive and busiest of home networking. The E4200 is ideal for high bandwidth devices such as Internet enabled TV s and game consoles. While also incorporate VoIP devices, smart phones, VoIP devices, multiple computers, e-readers, iPads, portable game stations, and much more. This router is the highest performing and best equipped to handle a home network that does it all.
• E4200 has:
o Performance:
• Dual Band (2.4 and 5.0 GHz)
• Maximum performance up to 300 Mbps* (2.4) and up to 450 Mbps* (5.0)
• Equipped with off-chip High Power amplifiers in 2.4 and 5.0 bands
• 4 Gigabit ports
• 6 antennas for maximum range
• 3X3 internal MIMO special stream configuration on the 5.0 GHz band for ideal performance for streaming HD videos, gaming and voice

o Features:
• Quality of Service for prioritizing bandwidth for movies, voice or music
• UPNP server for adding on storage to serve your internet enabled TVs or media server PCs
• Virtual USB port for easily adding storage and printers
• Supports latest IPV6 protocol via a free firmware download planned for late April.
• New design – winner of 2011 Red Dot Product Design Award

o Software:
• Advanced security: WPA and WPA2 and SPI Firewall
• Cisco Connect software for enabling three step setup, network management tools (parental controls, guest access) plus optional advanced settings.

o Available:
• Starting at all major retail and online etailers on April 5
• $179.99 MSRP.

Linksys E3200 High Performance Dual-Band Wireless-N Router

The E3200 is a powerful home wireless-n Dual Band router optimized for video, music, and multiplayer gaming.
• E3200 Highlights:
o Performance:
• Dual Band (2.4 and 5.0 GHz)
• Maximum performance up to 300 Mbps* (2.4) and up to 300 Mbps* (5.0 GHz)
• Equipped with off-chip High Power amplifiers in 2.4 and 5.0 bands
• 6 antennas for maximum range
• 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for quick file sharing
• Virtual USB port for easily adding storage, printers, and other devices
• 2X3 internal MIMO special stream configuration ideal for printing wirelessly, connecting to multiple devices, transferring and downloading large files, and streaming multimedia and gaming.

o Features:
• Dual-band designed to avoid interference and maximize throughput for smoother and faster HD video streaming, file transfers, and wireless gaming.
• Connect computers, internet-ready TV’s, game consoles, media players and more to your network.
• Quality of Service traffic prioritizing technology allows for efficient time-sensitive trafficking allowing fast downloads, smooth video and music streaming, gaming, and VoIP.
• Virtual USB port for easily adding storage and printers
• IPV6 Support is planned to be available by fall via free firmware download.
• New design

o Software:
• Advanced security: WPA and WPA2 and SPI Firewall
• Cisco Connect software for enabling three step setup, network management tools (parental controls, guest access) plus optional advanced settings.

o Available:
• Starting at all major retail and online etailers on April 5
• $149.99 MSRP.

Linksys E2500 Advanced Dual-Band Wireless-N Router

The E2500 is a powerful wireless-n Dual-Band router at $99 that is ideal for larger homes and offices and allows you double the capacity for surfing the Internet, streaming multimedia, and running applications simultaneously.

• E2500 has:
o Performance:
• Dual Band (2.4 and 5.0 GHz)
• Maximum performance up to 300 Mbps* (2.4) and up to 300 Mbps* (5.0 GHz)
• Equipped with on-chip amplifiers in 2.4 and 5.0 bands
• 4 antennas for increased range
• 2X2 internal MIMO special stream configuration ideal for printing wirelessly, connecting to multiple devices, transferring and downloading large files, and streaming multimedia and gaming.
o Features:
• Dual-band designed to avoid interference and maximize throughput for smoother and faster HD video streaming, file transfers, and wireless gaming.
• Connect computers, internet-ready TV’s, game consoles, media players and more.
• Quality of Service traffic prioritizing technology allows for efficient time-sensitive trafficking allowing fast downloads, smooth video and music streaming, gaming, and VoIP.
• IPV6 Support is planned to be available by fall via free firmware download.
• New design

o Software:
• Advanced security: WPA and WPA2 and SPI Firewall
• Cisco Connect software for enabling three step setup, network management tools (parental controls, guest access) plus optional advanced settings.

o Available:
• Starting at all major retail and online etailers on April 5
• $99.99 MSRP.

Linksys E1500 Wireless-N Router with SpeedBoost

The E1500 is a powerful home wireless-n router that will connect you in minutes with optimal speed and coverage. It is ideal for moderate-sized homes and the SpeedBoost technology promotes strong signal strength over greater distances for surfing the web, emailing, printing wirelessly, transferring and downloading large files, and connecting to multiple devices. Users will also experience speed and reliability while being protected with features like guest access and parental controls.

• E1500 has:
o Performance:
• 2.4 GHz band
• High speed up to 300 Mbps*
• Equipped with off-chip amplifiers
• 3 internal antennas
• 4 Ethernet ports
• 2X3 internal MIMO special stream configuration

o Features:
• IPV6 Support is planned to be available by fall via free firmware download.
• New design

o Software:
• Advanced security: WPA and WPA2 and SPI Firewall
• Cisco Connect software for enabling three step setup, network management tools (parental controls, guest access) plus optional advanced settings.

o Available:
• Starting at all major retail and online etailers on April 5
• $79.99 MSRP.

Linksys E1200 Wireless-N Router

• The E1200 is a powerful wireless-n router for the home that allows for dependable everyday activity performance. With its fast speed and reliable wireless coverage, it is ideal for standard sized homes, apartments, and dorms. With Cisco Connect software users can easily connect to multiple devices, manage kids internet access with parental controls ad provide simple guest access.

E1200 has:
o Performance:
• 802.11n 2.4 GHz band
• Maximum performance up to 300 Mbps*
• Equipped with on-chip amplifiers
• 2 internal antennas with MIMO technology to promote broad coverage
• 2X2 internal MIMO special stream configuration ideal for surfing the web, emailing, printing wirelessly, and connecting to multiple devices.

o Features:
• New next generation home networking design
• Support for IPV6 is planned to be available by fall.

o Software:
• Advanced security: WPA and WPA2 and SPI Firewall
• Cisco Connect software for enabling three step setup, network management tools (parental controls, guest access) plus optional advanced settings.

o Available:
• Starting at all major retail and online etailers on April 5
• $59.99 MSRP.

The original umi 1080 is now down to $499 (from $599), while the umi 720 will arrive at $399. Both will still require a service plan, either $99 for the year or $9.95 per month; still, that’s a lot less than the $275 annually/$24.99 monthly Cisco was previously demanding.

As for the softphone version, that’s Cisco umi Connect, a PC and Mac client for HD video calls that’s expected to be offered – free, and free of service fees – as a full app this summer. We’re still not convinced that any of this telepresence kit will make significant headway into the domestic market, especially with the growth in HD webcams on notebooks.

Press Release:

Cisco Connects Businesses to Consumers via Video; Announces Seamless Connectivity between ūmi and Cisco TelePresence and Expansion of Consumer TelePresence Portfolio

SAN JOSE, Calif. – March 7, 2011 – Extending the company’s success in telepresence, Cisco today announced that it is enabling businesses to connect with consumers via full interoperability between Cisco ūmiTM and the Cisco TelePresence portfolio for businesses. Cisco is also announcing an expansion of its ūmi product line with a range of options, from free HD desktop video to high-quality immersive telepresence experiences on an HDTV.

Business Services in the Home

As video communications becomes pervasive, businesses and consumers are increasingly looking to augment in-person meetings and interactions with lifelike video experiences. With today’s announcement, ūmi users in the home will be able to connect with businesses over telepresence, paving the way for innovative new video services such as distance learning, tele-health, virtual professional services and community services. For example, there are currently field trials underway in Korea that connect Cisco TelePresence and ūmi systems in the home to offer business and government services to consumers through their HDTVs.

Expanded ūmi Product Line

Key to today’s announcement is the extension of the ūmi product line, making home telepresence experiences available to more consumers. ūmi is a first-of-its-kind, easy-to-use consumer product that delivers a high-quality, immersive video calling experience that goes beyond just seeing the people you talk to. The expanded portfolio includes:

Cisco ūmi Connect, a free HD calling client for PC and Macs (currently in trials);
Cisco ūmi 720, a new product that delivers an immersive telepresence experience with lower broadband requirements, which will be available at $399;
Cisco ūmi 1080, the original breakthrough telepresence offering for the home now available at a reduced price of $499.
The service fee for Cisco ūmi 1080 and 720 is now $99.00 a year, or $9.95 a month. There is no service fee for ūmi Connect for PC and Mac.

ūmi 1080 and 720 include an HD camera, a console and a remote. Unlike video chat, ūmi telepresence was specifically designed for the living room and group-to-group conversations, delivering a truly immersive and lifelike video experience that fits into every home, automatically adjusting to lighting conditions and background noise to provide the most natural communications experience possible. Both ūmi 1080 and 720 products offer optical zoom and automatic pan and tilt to deliver close up and room size experiences.

ūmi 1080 and 720 connect to any existing HD television and broadband internet connection to deliver a high-quality, HD video calling experience in the home. The new Cisco ūmi 720 requires less bandwidth, 1.5 mbps upload and download speeds which are readily available across most of the U.S. Both versions of Cisco ūmi intelligently adapt to the quality of the broadband in the home.

Sharing Video Experiences

In addition to its immersive and lifelike experience and incredible ease of use, ūmi also offers HD recording and sharing on FaceBook, Flipshare and You Tube. In the case of a missed call consumers can leave video messages for one another. Both recorded videos and messages can be retrieved from a PC, Mac or smart phone. In addition, with Cisco ūmi telepresence, users can also place and receive video calls from anyone with a computer (PC or Mac), webcam and ūmi Connect or Google Video Chat.

“With today’s announcement, Cisco is continuing to deliver innovative, market-leading video and telepresence solutions that enable consumers to connect and transact with businesses from the comfort of their home,” said Marthin De Beer, senior vice president, TelePresence, Emerging Technologies & Consumer Business, Cisco. “By offering a range of video solutions – from high-end Cisco TelePresence for business to the free Cisco ūmi Connect product, we are extending our leadership in telepresence and driving the pervasive use of HD video.”

ūmi for Service Providers

Today’s announcement gives consumers, businesses and service providers the industry’s widest choice of high-definition telepresence video communications options. Verizon will be launching ūmi for its FiOS network this year. In addition, ūmi is in field trials with service providers in Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Availability

Cisco ūmi 1080 is now available for 499.00 at Best Buy Magnolia and at bestbuy.com; Cisco ūmi 720 is scheduled to be available for $399.00 early this summer. Cisco ūmi Connect is in beta trials and is scheduled to be available via free download this summer.

The Content Server 5.0 can record Telepresence sessions in 1080p resolution at 30 frames a second and allow for immediate review, playback and sharing, using Cisco’s Show and Share technology. The MXE 3500 can help tag words from a speech to a text engine to allow easy searches for videos with specific content.

Cisco also announced a 47-inch display unit, the CTS 1300, which is big enough for telepresence sessions with three to six people.

Prices have not yet been announced. The MXE 3500 will ship in Q2 2011, and the Content Server will be available in March, according to Cisco.

[via ComputerWorld]

At the dinner Obama wanted to talk with the CEOs about the “promoting of American innovation, and discuss his commitment to new investments in research and development, education, and clean energy,” said a White House official.

Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg nabbed the prime seats, each flanking the President. The other invitees included: Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, Cisco CEO John Chambers, Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Genentech Chairman Art Levinson, Stanford University President John Hennessy, and former state controller and venture capitalist Steve Westly.

[via TNW]

There’s also a USB port for hooking up external storage or a printer and sharing that with the network, together with an on-board UPnP server for streamed music. Come the spring, Cisco expect to add IPv6 support to the E4200 too.

The Linksys E4200 is available now from Best Buy and Linksys direct, priced at $179.99; it’ll be available through other channels later in the year. All well and good, but with the number of network-ready devices proliferating, when are we going to see a home router with more than just four gigabit ethernet ports?

Press Release:

Cisco Supercharges Home Networking with New Linksys Maximum Performance Wireless Router

New Linksys E4200 Dual-Band Router with Innovative Design Gives Consumers the Speed and Range for the Ultimate Wireless Entertainment Experience

San Francisco, CA – Cisco today unveiled its best-in-class wireless home router – the Linksys® E4200 Maximum Performance Dual-Band Wireless-N Router. Designed for optimum home theater performance, the E4200 works seamlessly with the latest entertainment devices, including Internet TVs, iPad tablets, game consoles, smart phones, e-readers, and VoIP devices. This new router not only helps boost performance and range in the home, it provides industry-leading speed of up to 450 Mbps* for smooth streaming of video and music and uninterrupted gaming.

Building on the decade of leadership and innovation from Linksys, this latest state of the art router features simultaneous dual-band wireless-N, four gigabit ports, and a 3×3 antenna configuration that help give it unparalleled speed and range. Additionally, a combination of internal and external amplifiers coupled with six antennas help increase the signal strength across greater distances, providing improved home network coverage and reducing dead spots. The E4200 also features a next-generation industrial design that combines sleek contours with advanced functionality.

“Cisco’s Linksys line continues to lead the industry with innovative technology for the growing number of wireless-enabled homes”, said Simon Fleming-Wood, vice president of marketing, Cisco Consumer Products. “The new Linksys E4200 router is ideal for home entertainment enthusiasts who want to equip their homes with the latest wireless technology or anyone who wants the reassurance of outfitting their home with the best router on the market today.”
The research firm, IDC reports that worldwide shipments of wireless-N routers are expected to grow 158% from 2010 – 2014 and the number of household with multimedia networks will grow 103% over the same time period. (IDC, Worldwide Home Networking 2010-2014 Forecast Update, Doc.# 225479, Nov. 2010) These growth projections emphasize the need for high performance routers like the Linksys E4200 that will provide the speed and range connectivity throughout the home.

New Features for Storage, Sharing, and Simple Setup
The E4200’s new USB feature makes it easy to add external storage to the network and since it is an UPnP Media server as well, consumers can easily store, share and stream movies, music and games to other devices around the home. The USB port also has plans for converting to a Virtual USB port which will also enable printers to easily connect to the network so all users in the home can print wirelessly. The included Cisco Connect software continues to provide simple three-step setup and network management tools such as parental controls and guest access.

Product Details
Performance:
· Maximum performance of up to 300 Mbps (2.4) and up to 450 Mbps (5.0GHz)*
· Simultaneous dual-band (2.4 and 5.0 GHz) with four 10/100/100 gigabit ports
· 3X3 internal MIMO special stream configuration on the 5.0 Ghz band for ideal performance for streaming HD videos, gaming and voice
· Internal and external amplifiers for maximum speed at greater distances for added in-home mobility
· Six antennas for maximum range

Features:
· Quality of Service (QoS) for prioritizing bandwidth for movies, voice or music
· UPnP media server for adding on storage to serve your Internet-enabled TVs or media server PCs
· USB port for easily adding external storage drives
· New design

Software:
· Advanced security: WPA and WPA2 and Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) Firewall
· Plans to support IPv6 in the spring
· Cisco Connect software for enabling simple setup, network management tools (parental controls, guest access) and optional advanced settings

Pricing and Availability:
The Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Dual-Band Wireless-N Router is immediately available for an MSRP of $179.99 at Best Buy, Best Buy.com and the Linksys store at http://homestore.cisco.com. The E4200 will roll out to other retail and online retailers over the next few months.

For more information about Linksys and the E4200, please visit: http://home.cisco.com/4200

According to the sources close to the matter, Cisco’s idea is to focus on the cable operators, and help them to combat upcoming rivals, which is primarily focused on Apple and their Apple TV, along with Google’s Google TV. Not surprisingly, the company is said to be getting ready to unveil the service on Wednesday in Las Vegas, at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Cisco will be showcasing a set-top box that will focus on Internet video, along with recorded, live, and on-demand TV.

The kicker is that Cisco won’t be offering up these boxes on their own, and prospective purchasers won’t be able to get these devices from Cisco. Instead, Cisco will offer up the boxes through cable operators directly, and then these cable operators will lease them out to subscribers. As of right now, pricing for the boxes, along with any other pricing specifications haven’t been decided on.

We’ll be on hand on Wednesday, so stay tuned.

[via Wall Street Journal]

Consumer video conferencing has been one of those things I have watched as an industry insider for a while now.  Mostly because I do a lot of analysis around the personal computer and most consumer video conferencing solutions have thus far been PC based.  The big question is are consumers ready for living room video conferencing?   Is the mass market ready or is it still only for early adopters?    Read on for my further analysis.

Cisco’s Umi Solution
Cisco has taken an approach that simply focuses on getting the stand alone experience with video conferencing right.   They felt that introducing a box that did too much and where video conferencing was only a feature was not the right strategy given where the market is right now.  To this extend they have created in my opinion the best in home video conferencing solution thus far.

One of the primary reason’s I say this is because they focused their efforts on the quality of the video and the experience of the video conference.    One of the things our informal research always pointed out about the PC based video conferencing solutions was that the low picture quality was an inhibitor of the experience therefore it made it less desirable.    We humans experience face to face interaction in high definition (or higher) so it would stand to reason that we would desire nothing less when it came to virtual face to face interactions.    This is why Cisco decided to have their solution be capable of providing a 1080p video quality resolution experience.  To get 1080p it does require 3.5 mbps both up and down in order to deliver 1080p quality.   To deliver 720p 1.5 mbps is required which is probably more likely for the average home consuming broadband consumer.

My only knock on the Cisco Umi solution is the price.   At a $599 price-tag plus a $24.99 a month price tag I think it is clearly an early adopter / small business solution for right now.    That being said we are very early in this market and it will take time to develop and as it develops the price will come down.

Logitech Revue
Logitech’s take on home video conferencing is very different.   Logitech, going full speed with Google TV, has built consumer video conferencing into their offering as an additional ad-on as a feature to their overall Google TV solution.   For Logitech its more about a new type of TV experience where video conferencing is a feature but not the sole reason for having the set up like Cisco’s Umi.

The Logitech video conferencing solution was good quality as well only it was 720p.  Given the short amount of time we had for a demo I couldn’t tell any drastic difference in the video quality of the two solutions but in both implementations I feel video quality is key to getting consumers to adopt video conferencing in the home.

The Pricing of the Revue at $299 + $149 for the video camera is a little more consumer friendly however set top boxes have not historically sold well in the past.  Again I feel like Google TV is still for early adopters and will take some time to mature before its ready for the mass market.

Video conferencing in the home will certainly happen and in particularly when all the devices capable of video calling can actually talk to each other.   Which is not the case right now.  The solutions are fragmented and will remain so for at least the next six month’s.

Retailers will be a key player in how consumers adopt home video conferencing.   It will be imperative that retailers position these products and provide an ample demonstration that highlights the value of home video conferencing.

Things to Watch

- Will service providers like Comcast or AT&T begin selling either solution in order to drive demand for higher broadband speeds
- Will other entrenched set top boxes in the home begin doing home video conferencing like the PS3 or the XBOX 360
- How will retailers position the two products to allow for the optimal demo and display

Cisco decided to go with a 1080p autofocus camera, and you’ll have to make use of a separate set-top box as well. According to Cisco, the Umi system will let you make full 1080p video calls with 720p/30 recording. But, if your bandwidth isn’t working with you on a given day, the system has a fallback to 720p/480p. The camera itself features a glass lens, auto exposure, and an optical zoom. There’s also an auto white balancing feature, too.

And, just in case you have some moments where you need a bit of privacy, or just want to get away from pesky people video calling you all the time, there’s a motorized privacy shutter. As a bonus, it looks like Cisco has made the Umi system compatible with Google Voice and Video Chat, but on the other side of the coin, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be free to use. You’ll have to pay for an “Umi service plan” to take advantage of the HD video calling system. Check out the full press release below for all the details.

About that service plan? According to Cisco, it will cost you $24.99 per month/$275 annually. And, as a little side-note, Cisco has confirmed that they are looking towards Apple to offer up some FaceTime integration, too. And the system will cost you $599.

Press Release

Cisco umi Brings Family and Friends to the Living Room at the Touch of a Button

Home Telepresence Product Delivers Amazingly Clear and Lifelike Video Get-Togethers Through Existing HD Televisions

SAN JOSE, CA–(Marketwire – October 6, 2010) – Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today introduced Cisco umi™ telepresence, a first-of-its-kind consumer product that brings family and friends together in HD video, whether they are around the corner or across the country. Cisco umi connects to an existing HD television and a broadband internet connection to create a video communications experience that is so clear, natural and lifelike, that users will see and hear their loved ones, right down to the twinkle in their eyes and the tone of their voices, as if they were in the same room.

Cisco umi, which includes an HD camera, a console and a remote, takes advantage of Cisco’s heritage in business telepresence, to deliver an immersive video experience that fits into every home, automatically adjusting to lighting conditions and various room sizes to provide superior video and audio performance.

Once Cisco umi is connected to an HD television and a wired or wireless broadband connection, a remote control provides access to an on-screen user interface, through which users can make umi calls, access video messages, manage contacts, and customize their profile and settings. Users can also record their own umi videos, which they can share on Facebook™, on YouTube™, or via email. Users can even keep in touch with people who don’t have umi by placing and receiving video calls from any computer with a webcam and Google video chat.

“Cisco is bringing people together, driving new video experiences that change the way we communicate, connect, and enjoy entertainment — in the home, at work, and on the go,” said John Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco. “Cisco umi will bring the unique telepresence experience into living rooms and change the way we are able to be together with family and friends. We envision a future where technologies like this will play a role in connecting consumers with businesses to enable the delivery of new services, ranging from education, to health care, to financial services — to the home.”

“Cisco umi is the ultimate way to capture the simple joys of being together with our distant friends and loved ones, whether they are around the corner or across the country,” said Marthin De Beer, senior vice president of Cisco’s emerging technologies business group. “From singing happy birthday every year to reading bedtime stories every night, umi lets friends and families experience life’s special moments together.”

Cisco is also working with Verizon to bring the umi experience to Verizon FiOS customers early next year. The two companies have been conducting successful trials of Cisco umi over Verizon’s 100 percent fiber-optic network, which delivers what a 2010 PCMAG.COM reader’s survey rated the fastest Internet speeds in the United States.
“Verizon’s high-IQ networks are incredible incubators of innovation that connect our customers to the things and the people they care about, how and when they want,” said Eric Bruno, vice president, of consumer product management at Verizon. “We plan to be the first service provider to offer Cisco umi to our customers, delivering an amazingly clear and lifelike experience that brings family and friends into your living room.”

Cisco is working with Best Buy to bring the Cisco umi experience to Magnolia Home Theatre stores this holiday season. Within Magnolia Home Theatre stores, consumers will be able to experience Cisco umi, get expert advice on the product and required broadband, as well as purchase Cisco umi, with installation and support provided by The Geek Squad.

Cisco umi Key Features and Benefits
Users enjoy amazingly clear and lifelike full HD experience.
An existing HD television and a broadband Internet connection are all that is needed.
Cisco umi is easy to set up and simple to use — users can be together at the touch of a button.
Video calls can be placed and received on any computer with a webcam and Google video chat.
Users will never miss a umi call with video messages.
Cisco umi videos can be created and then shared on Facebook, YouTube, or email.
Video messages can be checked on-the-go with a laptop.
New video message notices arrive via text on a mobile phone.
From the comfort of the couch, users can pan the room and even zoom in to get up close and personal, or pull back to include the whole family.
Privacy features like call screening and blocking, and a camera shutter that closes, keep users in control of their privacy.
Personalize with a unique video greeting, ringtones, and calling favorites.
The stylish design is a perfect match for the living room and HD television.
Opportunities to see Cisco umi
This fall, Cisco will kick off a major marketing campaign that will offer many opportunities for consumers to see the umi experience:
“The Oprah Winfrey Show” will bring people together on the show via Cisco umi.
A national advertising campaign featuring Ellen Page, the star of “Juno” and “Inception,” will feature Ellen and her friends using umi in their everyday lives.
A Cisco umi mall tour begins November 10 and travels to more than 20 major malls across the United States, during which consumers will be able to experience live umi demonstrations.
Pricing and Availability
Cisco umi is scheduled to be available for preorder on October 6 from umi.cisco.com and October 18 from bestbuy.com. It is scheduled to be available to consumers on November 14 in Best Buy/Magnolia Home Theater stores, bestbuy.com and umi.cisco.com for the suggested retail price of $599 with a monthly fee of $24.99 for unlimited umi calls, video messaging and video storage.
Videos
John Chambers discusses the impact of new video experiences like Cisco umi

http://www.youtube.com/v/TgOdtA_H2Ug?fs=1&hl=en_US

Cisco umi video overview

http://www.youtube.com/v/t9cksI9VvKg?fs=1&hl=en_US

Supporting Resources
Cisco umi photos and images
Visit The Platform blog to learn about Cisco umi
Check out the CiscoHome blog for knowledge from Cisco’s umi experts
Search #ciscoumi on Twitter for real-time updates on umi
“Like” Cisco umi on Facebook and enter to win a system for you and a friend
Additional information on Cisco umi™ telepresence
Visit www.umi.cisco.com for information on how to pre-order Cisco umi
Cisco umi b-roll: For product footage and Cisco executive commentary, visit www.go-cvs.com/ftp (click on the “check mark” icon on the lower left. The username is cisco-broll, and the password is cscobrollshots. Click Home-Telepresence folder to access Cisco umi b-roll.

Cisco umi telepresence product video, executive comments, and press event footage will be available for satellite downlink on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, 1700-1800 EDT:
Galaxy 16 C-Band
Orbital Slot: 99 degrees West Longitude
9 MHz Bandwidth MPEG 2 Digital
4:2:0 Chroma Profile
Transponder 10, Slot A
Downlink Frequency: 3886.5 MHz, Vertical Polarization
Symbol Rate: 6.1113 msps
FEC: 3/4
Vyvx/Level 3 Steele Valley TOC: 800-922-4424

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, this year celebrates 25 years of technological innovation, operating excellence and corporate social responsibility. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.
Cisco, the Cisco logo and Cisco Systems are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the United States and certain other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.
For direct RSS Feeds of all Cisco news, please visit “News@Cisco” at the following link:

http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/rss.html

As to why the Cius is roughly double the price of an iPad, Cisco is highlighting their enterprise integration and pointing out that the comparison isn’t really fair.  ”Cius is not a consumer device so it’s not an equivalent comparison” the FAQ suggests, rather “Cisco Cius is the first-of-its- kind mobile collaboration device.”  It’ll run Android 2.2 and Cisco say they’ll be keeping up with Google’s updates, however system admins will be able to lock down Android Market access.

[via Android Community]

A Cisco event is scheduled for next week, promising “a new Cisco consumer experience”; the company’s PR has declined to comment on whether the star of the event will be the unnamed telepresence gadget.  It’s unclear whether it will be a standalone video phone, like the ASUS AiGuru SV1T Skype videophone or something that plugs into an existing display – such as an HDTV – as we’ve seen offered from Panasonic and others.

More interestingly, perhaps, it could be a consumer version of the Cisco Cius, a 7-inch enterprise-centric tablet that runs Android and is targeted at mobile video calls.  That’s expected to begin shipping to enterprise customers in Q1 2011.

The two 8GB versions can store up to two hours of footage, while the 4GB models max out at an hour.  All but the cheapest UltraHD have image stabilization, and of course there’s the flip-out USB plug and preloaded copy of FlipShare for basic editing and uploading content.

The Flip Video UltraHD 4GB is $149.99 while the UltraHD 8GB is $199.99; the MinoHD 4GB is $179.99 while the MinoHD 8GB is $179.99.  They’re on sale today in various colors, or can be customized online at TheFlip.com.

Meanwhile Cisco has also kicked off a “Designed for Flip” accessories program, with various third-party companies taking advantage of the new FlipPort connector.  For instance, Blue Microphones will be offering the Mikey for Flip, an external microphone, while Scosche are readying a wireless clip-mic.  iGo have a new Pocket Projector accessory, a pico-projector which snaps onto the FlipPort for showing your footage at up to 70-inches.

Press Release:

Cisco Debuts All-New Flip Video Lineup

New Line Delivers Next-Generation Video Quality, Expanded Personalization Capabilities, and More Options for Fun
September 20, 2010 — San Francisco, CA
Cisco’s Flip Video™, the world’s leader in shoot-and share video cameras, today rolled out an all-new line of affordable UltraHD™ and MinoHD™ video cameras. These new video cameras feature Flip Video simplicity, enhanced HD video quality, hardware-based image stabilization, expanded product personalization options, and more ways to share video using pre-loaded FlipShare™ software. Flip also announced today Designed for Flip™, a new program offering fun accessories from a wide range of partners that include everything from wide angle lenses and external microphones to battery chargers and a portable projector (see separate release).

“This is without question the best line of Flip Video cameras we’ve ever created,” said Jonathan Kaplan, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco Consumer Products. “The new line combines Flip simplicity, affordability and fun with truly breakthrough video quality, image stabilization, and unlimited personalization options.”

Building upon the acclaimed Flip Video user experience — which makes it easy and fun for anyone to capture and share video — Flip Video’s new line has raised the bar again, by delivering amazing video quality without compromising Flip’s hallmark simplicity. By combining its innovative, always-on image stabilization technology with 720p resolution at 60 frames per second (fps), Flip now offers the consumer stunningly clear and steady video that’s both simple and affordable. The new Flip Video line is available nationwide starting at just $149.99, offering a video camera for every budget.

In addition, the entire Flip Video family is now available in personalized designs so Flip owners can express their own personal style with every Flip they buy, at no additional cost. Consumers can visit the Flip Online Store (TheFlip.com) to choose from thousands of designs from artists, celebrities, and iconic brands, or upload an image to create their own one-of-a-kind Flip video camera.

The new Flip video cameras also come pre-loaded with the latest version of FlipShare, which helps consumers easily organize, edit and share their videos. FlipShare upgrade now includes direct posts to Twitter™ – joining the convenient direct-share options already popular with Facebook™ and YouTube™. Flip Video users can count on stunning video no matter how they choose to view or share it – on a computer, their HDTV or using the simple direct uploads to social media sites.

New UltraHD Family
The world’s best-selling shoot-and-share video family – the Flip Video UltraHD – now offers two new models with even more reasons to own one. For the first time, the UltraHD line offers personalization through the Flip Online Store (TheFlip.com) with thousands of designs for users to create a video camera showcasing their own personal style. Along with always-on image stabilization and newly enhanced 720p/60 fps video quality, the new Flip Video UltraHD 2 hour also features a new slimmer design that fits easily in a pocket or purse. The UltraHD 2 hour is the first Flip video camera to feature FlipPort™ – a proprietary Flip-designed connector enabling new add-ons options as part of the newly announced Designed for Flip™ accessory program.

The new Flip Video UltraHD 1 hour is the first-ever HD Flip Video camera priced at $149.99. An industry top-seller and consumer favorite, this Flip offers more for less: one hour of high-quality HD video; Flip simplicity, no-hassle built-in memory; plus a choice of magenta, blue, white or thousands of unique designs.

New Flip MinoHD Line
The new MinoHD 1 hour and 2 hour video cameras are sleek and stylish with enhanced HD video quality. Like the new UltraHD 2HR, the new MinoHD video cameras now feature the built-in image stabilization and 720p/60 fps combination allowing consumers to capture incredibly clear and steady video. Flip customers can opt for black, silver or from thousands of designs at the Flip Online Store (TheFlip.com). To express their own personal style, consumers can easily upload their own image to create a one-of-a-kind Flip MinoHD video camera.

Availability
The new Flip video cameras will be broadly distributed and are available starting today at the Flip Video Store (www.TheFlip.com), Best Buy and Amazon.com and coming soon to Wal-Mart, Target and Staples.

Press Release:

Flip Video Expands Consumer Options with “Designed for Flip” Accessory Program

Shoot & Share Category Leader Offers New Ways to Extend the Fun with New Flip Accessories from Aquapac, Blue Microphones, Bower, iGo, Ikelite, Seagate and Scosche
September 20, 2010 — San Francisco, CA
Cisco’s Flip Video®, the shoot and share video camera leader, today announced an all-new accessory program called Designed for Flip™ to expand the Flip Video experience for consumers. New Designed for Flip accessories announced today include a range of products including: wide angle lens, two different types of enhanced external microphones, waterproof cases, battery chargers and a pocket projector.

“People choose Flip because it makes capturing and sharing video simple, affordable, and most of all, fun,” said Simon Fleming-Wood, senior director of marketing for Cisco’s Consumer Products. “The new Designed for Flip program extends the fun with more choices from leading accessory companies so Flip users can do more and go more places with their Flips.”

New Designed for Flip and FlipPort™
The all-new Designed for Flip line will debut several products starting today and then continue to roll out more accessories through the fall and beyond. The Flip Video Designed for Flip team is working with leading companies in multiple product segments to provide a wide selection of general purpose and specialized products for both current and future Flip video cameras.

A key component of the Designed for Flip initiative is a new Flip Video feature called FlipPort™. The FlipPort is a uniquely developed connector found on the bottom of the new Flip UltraHD 8 GB/2 hour video camera — also announced today — that will become a standard feature on future generations of Flip video cameras. The FlipPort, will allow a range of specialized accessories to easily plug right in to Flip video cameras and open up a world of new uses and creativity for consumers.

New Designed for Flip products using FlipPort include Mikey for Flip, from Blue Microphones™, a professional quality external microphone that lets Flip users capture even better sound quality ranging from a whisper to a rock concert. Scosche™ will also be offering a wireless lavaliere microphone that will enable up close audio ideal for interviews. iGo™ is also offering three new products: the Overtime Battery extender which doubles the Flip Video battery life; the Charge Anywhere power adapter can charge two products at once such as a Flip video camera and another USB accessory; and finally a new Pocket Projector will allow Flip owners to instantly project and watch their Flip video clips directly from the video camera anywhere and on any flat surface up to the size of a 70” TV. In addition, Seagate has plans to support Flip video cameras with FlipPort in the coming months.

For all Flip video cameras, the Designed for Flip accessory line also features a wide assortment of products to let users do more with their Flip. New accessories now available include Flip Waterproof cases from Aquapac®, which allow consumers to use their Flip video camera for activities such as sailing, snorkeling and skiing, a line of underwater cases from Ikelite™, ideal for scuba diving and a new magnetic Wide Angle Lens, from Bower™, that makes it easy to capture wide-angle video footage.

Pricing and Availability
Select Designed for Flip accessory products are available* today in the United States at the Flip Video Store (TheFlip.com) and will be coming soon to Amazon.com and other retailers.

For information about how to become a Designed for Flip developer, please contact developer@theflip.com.

There’s also some talk of Google being interested in Skype, though they might have fallen short of actually putting in a bid due to antitrust concerns.  Either way, whoever ends up with the company will need to have a good plan to turn a decent profit: as part of the IPO process, Skype revealed that only 6-percent of their current user-base pays for any kind of service, with the rest making free calls only.  Skype has recently attempted to broaden their appeal with third-party developers and hardware manufacturers by launching the Skype SDK, a way to invisibly integrated the VoIP service into other apps and devices.

[via GigaOm]

Comptuerworld spoke to Martin De Beer at Cisco Live! and was treated to a few previews of coming products from the company. Cisco is looking at this Christmas to launch a version of the Flip that sports WiFi. Cisco also talked about an interesting product called Media Experience Engine that would allow Apple products to receive and view Flash content.

Cisco also has plans to fully support Apple FaceTime video chat and will develop a video client for supporting video on the iPhone 4 that will be sold on the App store. The app will be called Movi for the iPhone and no launch date was offered.

It’s also designed to make it easier for owners to get to their email, and all of their media as well. It features things like built-in WiFi 802.11b/g/n, integrated 3G/4G, Bluetooth 3.o support, a 7-inch (diagonally) touchscreen display, and it’s running Google’s Android mobile Operating System.

We mentioned video conferencing, and Cisco has managed to stick a fully 720p HD camera on the front-side of the tablet, which is able to refresh at 30 fps. And on the back, there’s a 5MP camera to boot. Unfortunately, there’s no word on pricing, but they are expected to start shipping this bad boy some time in 2011. One more point of interest: the battery seems to be removable, but the standard one that will come in the box will supposedly last you eight hours on a single charge. Check out the press release below for the full details.

Press Release:

LAS VEGAS, NV, Jun 29, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — Cisco (CSCO 21.56, -0.86, -3.83%) today unveiled Cisco Cius, a first-of-its-kind mobile collaboration business tablet that delivers virtual desktop integration with anywhere, anytime access to the full range of Cisco collaboration and communication applications, including HD video.

Cisco Cius is an ultra-portable device weighing just 1.15lbs (0.52kg) that extends the productivity benefits of Cisco collaboration applications to a highly secure mobile platform. In addition to full telepresence interoperability, Cisco Cius offers HD video streaming and real-time video, multi-party conferencing, email, messaging, browsing, and the ability to produce, edit and share content stored locally or centrally in the cloud.

Based on the Android operating system, Cisco Cius is an open platform for communication and collaboration whose form factor and applications are designed to more securely connect employees on-the-go with the right people in real-time, and to provide those workers with the ability to access and share the content they need from any place on the network.

Cisco Cius offers IT professionals new options when it comes to equipping mobile workers with computing devices. Through virtual desktop integration, Cisco Cius offers flexible computing options with cloud-based services, providing dramatically lower capital costs and cost-per-user for desktop maintenance.

Businesses can also tap into the growing Android developer community that is building business-class productivity applications with appropriate IT controls. The combination of applications and flexible computing options provides a compelling alternative to today’s PC-on-every-desktop paradigm.

ANNOUNCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Product Features

– The Cisco Cius is a lightweight portable business computing tablet
offered with an optional HD audio station equipped with a telephone
handset speakerphone, HD DisplayPort and USB ports.

– The Cisco Cius tablet features a front-mounted 720p HD camera which
refreshes at up to 30 frames per second; a seven inch, high-resolution
widescreen super VGA touch-target display for real-time and streamed
video, and single-button TelePresence interoperability that can be
utilized either when the tablet is docked, or being used remotely via
Wi-Fi.

– The tablet has a 5-megapixel rear facing camera that can transmit
streaming VGA quality video and capture still images, and dual
noise-cancelling microphones for audio conferencing.

– Cisco Cius features an eloquent contacts-driven user experience,
designed to enable users to quickly reach their important contacts.

– An on-board accelerometer readily orients applications for viewing in
portrait or landscape modes as users rotate the device to their
preferred viewing orientation.

– Cisco Cius supports 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi for enterprise campus
mobility and 3G cellular services when off-campus. 4G services will be
available at a later date. Bluetooth and Micro-USB means users can
work untethered and share data with a PC.

– A detachable and serviceable battery offers eight hours of life under
normal usage.

Integration with Business Applications

– Cisco Cius provides support for the comprehensive suite of Cisco
collaboration applications including Cisco Quad, Cisco Show and Share,
Cisco WebEx Connect, Cisco WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco Presence, and
interoperability with Cisco TelePresence.

– Cisco Cius is supported by Cisco Unified Communications Manager and is
easily integrated into existing Cisco customer environments.

– Cisco Cius helps ensure a more secure mobile collaboration experience
by leveraging Cisco AnyConnect VPN Security, part of the Cisco
Borderless Networks architecture.

– Virtual desktop integration provides IT organizations with the ability
to host software applications securely in the data center and to
utilize the Cisco network to deliver those applications ‘as-a-service’
anytime, anywhere. Cisco Cius thereby supports data center
consolidation and reduced software licensing costs.

– Cisco Cius offers businesses the ability to take advantage of the
ever-expanding ecosystem of cost-effective, third-party applications,
supported by the Android operating system, while controlling user
access policy.

– Cisco will help expand Android developed applications for business by
offering Cisco Collaboration Application Protocol Interfaces (APIs) to
developers through a Software Developer’s Kit (SDK).

Availability

– Customer trials of Cisco Cius will begin in the third quarter of
calendar year 2010, with general availability in the first quarter of
calendar year 2011.

The consultancy consists of 35 people, and it looks like they’ll be mostly involved with Cisco’s consumer ranges.  That means more work on Flip as well as likely having a hand in future Linksys brand networking equipment.  The company also have a wireless media system, though its fallen into the background in the face of competition from Sonos and Logitech’s Squeezebox line.

Cisco aren’t confirming how much they spent to acquire MOTO, but it’s expected to be finalised by Q4 of the company’s 2010 financial year.  At that point the MOTO team will become part of the Cisco Consumer Products team led by Kaplan.

Press Release:

Cisco Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire MOTO

SAN JOSE, Calif. – May 18, 2010 – Cisco today announced its intent to acquire privately held MOTO Development Group, a design consulting firm that develops products and product strategies for the consumer industry. Based in San Francisco, MOTO’s talent base will complement Cisco’s and enable Cisco to rapidly enhance its consumer product development road map.

“Consumers have embraced our Flip VideoTM, ValetTM and Linksys® product lines because they deliver on the promise of making video and home networking simple, affordable and fun,” said Jonathan Kaplan, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco® Consumer Products. “MOTO’s design and engineering teams have deep consumer expertise that will accelerate our ability to continue to deliver great products and expand Cisco’s consumer business.”

MOTO brings to Cisco an accomplished team of more than 35 consultants with a proven track record in the consumer product industry. The MOTO team has been instrumental in the development of innovative products from startups to Fortune 500 companies, including Cisco’s industry-leading Flip video product family. MOTO’s multidisciplinary team drives innovation across the product life cycle to create engaging products and consumer experiences.

MOTO’s philosophy directly aligns with Cisco’s consumer strategy to use devices, software and the network to deliver transformational product experiences that delight consumers. As the consumer market evolves, Cisco will continue to focus on helping people live a connected life that is more personal, more social and more visual. Like the acquisition of Pure Digital in 2009, the acquisition of MOTO is another step toward embedding consumer design and ease of use into Cisco products for the consumer market.

Financial terms of the transaction are undisclosed. The acquisition is subject to various standard closing conditions and is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of Cisco’s fiscal year 2010. Upon the closing of the acquisition, MOTO employees will become part of the Cisco Consumer Products team led by Kaplan.

That means significantly higher speeds than WiFi 802.11n is capable of currently, handy when you consider how many people are trying to shuffle high-definition media around their homes or back up huge quantities of data.  Backward compatibility, meanwhile, means older non-WiGig compliant devices with WiFi can still hook up to the same networks.  Cisco is fresh on-board, and sound pretty keen from their press release quote, so there’s a fair chance we could see super-speedy wireless debuting relatively soon.

Press Release:

WIGIG ALLIANCE PUBLISHES MULTI-GIGABIT WIRELESS SPECIFICATION AND LAUNCHES ADOPTER PROGRAM

WiGig Alliance Publishes Multi-Gigabit Wireless Specification and Launches Adopter Program

Cisco Joins WiGig Board of Directors as Organization Drives Toward a Unified Ecosystem of Computing, Communications and Entertainment Devices

TOKYO – May 10, 2010 – The Wireless Gigabit Alliance™ (WiGig), the organization advancing the worldwide adoption and use of 60 GHz wireless technology, today announced the publication of its unified wireless specification and the opening of its Adopter Program. WiGig adopter members can now begin developing wireless products that use the unlicensed 60 GHz spectrum to deliver multi-gigabit-speed wireless communications.

The WiGig specification enables high performance wireless data, display and audio applications that supplement the capabilities of today’s wireless LAN devices. WiGig tri-band enabled devices, which operate in the 2.4, 5 and 60 GHz bands, will deliver data transfer rates up to 7 Gbps, more than 10 times faster than the highest 802.11n rate while maintaining compatibility with existing Wi-Fi devices. Additionally, the technology was designed to support a multitude of applications on both low power and high performance devices, including consumer electronics, PCs, handheld devices and home networking equipment. As a result, WiGig can create a global ecosystem of entertainment, computing and communications devices that work together seamlessly to connect people in the digital age.

“On behalf of the WiGig Alliance, I’m extremely proud to announce the publication of the industry’s first comprehensive multi-gigabit wireless specification,” said Dr. Ali Sadri, WiGig Alliance president and chairman. “WiGig can now provide the world’s leading innovators with a license to develop next-generation wireless products under royalty-free terms. With this announcement today, and with our new partnership with the Wi-Fi Alliance, we are one step closer to fulfilling our vision of a unified 60 GHz ecosystem. We welcome all companies to join with us as we continue to drive the industry forward.”

Cisco Joins Board of Directors
The WiGig Alliance continues to attract industry-leading technology companies to its roster. Cisco has joined the WiGig Alliance Board of Directors, and Harman International, Peraso Technologies and Samsung Electro-Mechanics have also joined WiGig as contributing members.

“Cisco sees 60 GHz technology as an important option in the evolution of wireless LANs in the enterprise, small business and home,” said Bob Friday, Director of Strategic Initiatives of Cisco’s Wireless Business Unit. “The wireless arena is certainly one in which Cisco can contribute greatly, especially as networks and information access become increasingly borderless by nature.”

“WiGig shows enormous potential to drive the kind of wireless performance that businesses and consumers need,” said Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst, Enderle Group. “The organization has brought together a critical mass of diverse industry leaders, and with the publication of its unified specification, WiGig is enabling the next generation of multi-gigabit wireless products for multiple platforms and applications.”

For information about becoming a WiGig adopter member, visit www.wigig.org/join/.

About the WiGig Alliance
The WiGig Alliance was formed to establish a global ecosystem of high-speed and easy-to-use wireless devices that work together seamlessly to connect people in the digital age. WiGig technology enables multi‐gigabit‐speed wireless communications among consumer electronics, handheld devices and PCs, and fuels industry convergence to a single radio using the readily available, unlicensed 60 GHz spectrum. The organization brings together the world’s leading manufacturers of semiconductors, personal computers, consumer electronics and handheld devices. For more information, please visit www.wigig.org.