The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are widely predicted to rapidly increase the adoption of digital services. It is set to be the most connected Games of all time, with record-breaking volumes of digital content being created, broadcast, and then shared via all kinds of networks and media.
The BBC alone will deliver 2,000 hours of live sport and create the equivalent of six months’ worth of coverage for its on-demand iPlayer service. One billion smart devices are expected to connect to the action and, with most people now having camera phones, the volumes of data they will generate is unprecedented. Attendees will engage with the Games in new ways, and people will be able to watch them on the greatest ever choice of channels and devices.
So who are the winners? Spectators will have an amazing time, and be able to share the experience with their friends. At work, there’s likely to be a lot of catching up with the action on PCs and smartphones, while businesses near the venues are sure to prosper. For content providers, it’s a chance to drive innovation by packaging content in new ways, and all the service providers will be delivering unprecedented network performance. Read More »
One thing we truly appreciate about Cisco Live UK is the global nature of our attendees. Not only do we get to see our eclectic, enthusiatic, and worldly customers, but also we get to see our Cisco counterparts from all over the globe.
Take for example Ahmed Farrag. Ahmed is the Director of Business Development for Emerging Solutions Ecosystems, and he is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. We first met Ahmed at Cisco Live US last year. This year, he was very impressed with the customer presence from Emerging Markets, the Middle East, and EMEAR (Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia):
I’ve seen how sport can inspire and bring people together, transcending boundaries and borders. It’s just the same for the organisations delivering to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Organising London 2012 – the greatest show on Earth -- requires collaboration on a grand scale.
As the official network infrastructure provider, I lead the marketing team who are helping to make the Games happen. We understand the size, complexity and hard work that’s needed – the equivalent of running 46 world championships at the same time, with no second chances.
If spinning plates was an Olympic sport, I’d be tipping the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) for gold. With everyone jostling for position, I’ve been so impressed by the way LOCOG protects sponsorship values and ensures we stay true to the ethos of the Games. Under pressure with only 200 days to go, working with LOCOG, other partners and sponsors continues to be both rewarding and challenging.
This week Cisco unveiled the next phase of its Virtualization Experience Infrastructure (VXI) with a series of offerings and innovations that can deliver uncompromised desktop virtualization experiences. Cisco also announced endpoints that enable high-quality voice and video in virtual desktop environments – a development that could help redefine collaboration in the virtual workspace.
This week Cisco and Citrix Systems announced that they have entered into a strategic alliance to develop and deliver solutions that help customers simplify and accelerate large-scale desktop virtualization deployments. Through this alliance, Cisco and Citrix will drive innovations that simplify the deployment of high-definition virtual desktops and applications and improve end-user experiences over a highly secure Citrix HD-enabled Cisco network.
Here’s what to look forward to next week!
The Broadband Debate: Many believe broadband service should be a basic right. Country by country issues vary, but how can access be achieved? Learn more about this issue on Monday!
And that’s it! Have a great weekend and talk to you next Friday!
Most people can remember where they were when a high-profile news event happened — such as the 9/11 attacks on the USA. I mention this because I was standing in a hotel room a couple of weeks ago listening to my wife tell me about the London Riots – from insights she received on her smartphone via Twitter. Reality happens in real-time, so does today’s news reporting.
