Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) unveiled a series of product introductions, innovations and service offerings designed to make Cisco TelePresence and video collaboration more affordable, simpler to manage under a common architecture, and more available through cloud services. Theese announcements, which also include new immersive experiences, can help customers quickly and cost effectively take advantage of the transition to video across the enterprise.

Cisco estimates video communications traffic will increase 10-fold from 2008 to 2013. As more organizations deploy video pervasively, Cisco announced that all of Cisco’s new enterprise collaboration endpoints will be video-enabled. Additionally, Cisco announced that all voice- and video-enabled offerings will interoperate natively with Cisco® Unified Communications Manager.

As companies adopt telepresence and video calling across their organizations, having a single call-control infrastructure for voice and video that runs across a single architecture can help enable simpler deployments, improved manageability and a quicker return on investment. The Cisco Unified Communications Manager call-control and processing system does just that. Already the foundation for Cisco’s voice offerings and Cisco TelePresence, Cisco Unified Communications Manager makes initiating video calls a snap with one-button-to-push technology. Endpoints acquired through Tandberg will now connect to Cisco Unified Communications Manager, starting with the Cisco IP Video Phone E20 this quarter. With this announcement, Cisco is continuing to integrate the road maps of Cisco and Tandberg while executing on a converged strategy.

Cisco made a host of other announcements focused on helping customers and partners deploy and scale video throughout their organizations while also benefiting from exceptional experiences.

• Extending the Reach of Cisco TelePresence: Cisco introduced new endpoints for desktops and offices that extend Cisco TelePresence to a wider range of users as well as to more midrange businesses. These new endpoints, the Cisco TelePresence EX60 and the Cisco TelePresence System 500 32-inch, extend the Cisco TelePresence family of personal units with smaller footprint requirements and lower price points.
• Redefining the Web Conferencing Experience: With the launch of Cisco WebEx™ Meeting Center with high quality video, meeting participants can see other participants with exceptional clarity in full-screen video mode, turning Web conferencing into a virtual video conferencing room. This experience will soon extend to mobile users through the Cisco Cius™ tablet and, starting in December, the Apple iPad.
• Offering More Flexible Deployment Options: Cisco also introduced the Cisco TelePresence Exchange System. This innovative telepresence service creation platform gives service providers a turnkey packaged solution that can help them easily and cost effectively deploy telepresence services such as intercompany calling. These capabilities, hosted in the partner’s cloud, can help enable highly secure collaboration and conferencing services across network borders.
• Empowering Channel Partners: Cisco is introducing a video channel initiative that aligns the Cisco and Tandberg partner communities into a single channel program. The TelePresence Video Authorized Technology Provider (ATP) designation has tiered specialization levels: Express, Advanced and Masters. By incorporating the best aspects of Tandberg and Cisco channel programs, the initiative accommodates all levels of video expertise to help drive profitable growth opportunities for channel partners.

These new services, endpoints and experiences, combined with Cisco’s recently announced infrastructure and medianet architecture advancements, can help customers deploy video more pervasively and solve challenges around video delivery, interoperability and quality.

New Cisco TelePresence Endpoints:

• The Cisco TelePresence EX60 is a desktop system designed for knowledge workers. It has a smaller footprint and a list price that is approximately 30 percent lower than the popular Cisco TelePresence EX90. The smaller size and lower cost can help enable more companies to deploy telepresence at a faster rate throughout their organizations. The Cisco TelePresence EX60 is available this quarter.
• The Cisco TelePresence System 500 32-inch (CTS 500-32) is a pedestal-based endpoint designed for executives with private office environments. The system gives executives a virtual in-person experience common to the popular Cisco TelePresence System 500 37-inch, yet it has a smaller form factor and an approximate 30 percent lower list price. The CTS 500-32 is available this quarter.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center With High-Quality Video:

• Cisco WebEx Meeting Center with high quality video, available this quarter, offers users a completely new, engaging video experience.
• In addition to seeing speakers in full-screen mode with exceptional clarity, users can share desktops simultaneously and easily connect to Cisco TelePresence meetings via Cisco WebEx One Touch.
• This Cisco WebEx offering also features ActivePresence, which shows all the meeting participants in a strip along the bottom of the screen. The active speaker is shown in full-screen mode while maintaining immersion with the active participants. Through voice activated switching, when another participant begins speaking, that person appears in full-screen mode instead. ActivePresence is also available with Cisco TelePresence endpoints.

Cisco Advancements for Cloud TelePresence Solutions:

• Cisco is introducing a telepresence service creation platform, called the Cisco TelePresence Exchange System. With this flexible solution, service providers can quickly and cost effectively build out and launch their own cloud-based telepresence exchange services for managed and hosted telepresence.
• The Cisco TelePresence Exchange System will enable service providers around the world to offer exchanges in their local areas, helping to expand the availability of hosted and managed telepresence services.
• Cisco also released a solution that can help solve a significant barrier to intercompany telepresence adoption. The Cisco TelePresence Directory, available now, is a global directory that helps organizations and end users identify who they can call, and provides tips on scheduling intercompany telepresence meetings, while maintaining policy control, privacy and security.

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