Cisco Systems, has launched its first home-grown product for users, a $599 gadget for videoconferencing from the living room. The product- umi telepresence will help communicate with other owners of the device and also with users of Google’s free video chat service. In case of 32m US homes who boast of the minimum required upload speed, might be doubling the numbers by the end of 2012, Cisco executives said. According to Zeus Kerravala, a Yankee Group analyst this product is aimed for the high-end niche buyer who wants quality and security. Cisco TelePresence products are very much known in case of firms and is accredited for its ability to offer lifelike conferencing. However, this umi device doesn’t associate with any of those services. Gina Clark, project general manager at Cisco, said soon the company will be incorporating the products. Meanwhile, Cisco plans an advertising campaign with actress Ellen Page and backing from Verizon Communications, which will be offered at a subsidy when it resells umi to the more than 3m users of its fiber-only network, offering the required bandwidth. Eric Bruno, a vice president at Verizon explained, “It’s a fantastic experience and literally you forget that the people aren’t in the room. There’s no multi-tasking, no wandering off.” The gadget is to ship on November 14 will be sold from Best Buy retail stores.
Cisco Systems, has launched its first home-grown product for users, a $599 gadget for videoconferencing from the living room. The product- umi telepresence will help communicate with other owners of the device and also with users of Google’s free video chat service. In case of 32m US homes who boast of the minimum required upload speed, might be doubling the numbers by the end of 2012, Cisco executives said. According to Zeus Kerravala, a Yankee Group analyst this product is aimed for the high-end niche buyer who wants quality and security. Cisco TelePresence products are very much known in case of firms and is accredited for its ability to offer lifelike conferencing. However, this umi device doesn’t associate with any of those services. Gina Clark, project general manager at Cisco, said soon the company will be incorporating the products. Meanwhile, Cisco plans an advertising campaign with actress Ellen Page and backing from Verizon Communications, which will be offered at a subsidy when it resells umi to the more than 3m users of its fiber-only network, offering the required bandwidth. Eric Bruno, a vice president at Verizon explained, “It’s a fantastic experience and literally you forget that the people aren’t in the room. There’s no multi-tasking, no wandering off.” The gadget is to ship on November 14 will be sold from Best Buy retail stores.
