We are on the cusp of a whole new wave of digital entertainment experiences that will make video content much easier to find, navigate, interact with and enjoy, on any device and network. Today, Cisco took another important step towards realizing that vision by announcing its intention to acquire NDS Group Ltd. a leading provider of video software and content security solutions that enables users to intuitively view, search and navigate across digital content anytime, anywhere and on any device.

Video is transforming every aspect of our lives. Telemedicine services in New Mexico are helping patients in underserved communities to secure video consultations with expert doctors many miles away. In India, classrooms in tiny rural villages are now being taught by remote teachers using Webex video. We’re even seeing technology that lets us use video to try on dozens of outfits without ever stepping into a fitting room.  For thousands of business professionals around the world, attending a meeting with colleagues, customers and partners in some far flung corner of the world via TelePresence is a routine part of their day.

It’s impossible to argue with the transformational power of video, but perhaps the most noticeable changes are happening right in our own homes, and on our mobile devices.

Television has been truly transformed in the past decade, from a one-way inflexible viewing experience, to a highly dynamic one, which can be time-shifted and enjoyed on an increasing array of digital video devices. But this is only the beginning of an exciting journey.

While clearly a substantial acquisition and major landmark in Cisco’s history in its own right, today’s acquisition is the latest in a series of milestones for Cisco’s Videoscape strategy. Videoscape is Cisco’s vision and platform for the creation of new visual, mobile and social video entertainment experiences through the convergence of digital TV, online content, and social media and video communications applications.

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Tags: acquisition, future of television, NDS, video, videoscape

The transformation of video and its accoutrements, all in IP, is a reality that’s alive and well in the Great North. And before Spring begins its spectacle, we wanted to give a nod to our Canadian colleagues about the hotbed of IP video activity that’s going on in that important territory.

First, on February 7, TELUS announced plans to add a mobile component to its successful Optik TV service, calling it “Optik on the Go.” That way, consumers in Alberta and British Columbia get a simple, straightforward way to view Optik TV content, across a range of devices.

It’s a continuation of a 10 year strategy for our friends to the north, who decided way back in 2000 to transition to an “all IP” configuration, from end to end. Read More »

Tags: canada, Rogers, Service Provider, TELUS, video, videoscape

Yesterday was a whirlwind of activity for Cisco at Mobile World Congress 2012, and a big day for our smallest networking devices.

On the heels of the past week’s 4G/LTE announcements with Magyar Telekom, LG U+ , Vodafone Hungary, Telefonica Spain, and Bell Canada, yesterday we stood with business partners Orange, and Shaw to announce a new era in the evolution of the mobile Internet: the era of the small cell.

Cisco CEO  John Chambers declared “We are now entering the post-macrocell era, where small cells also will play a critical role in delivering the next-generation mobile Internet.”

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Tags: 4G, 4G LTE, Bell Canada, BT, Cisco, DT, john chambers, lg u+, magyar telekom, mobile internet, mobile video, mobility, mwc, Orange, PCCW, Service Provider, Shaw, smart, Telefonica Spain, True, V2oLTE, videoscape, vodafone hungary, wi-fi

Mobile World Congress 2012 has finally arrived and we have picked up a lot of 3G and 4G/LTE momentum as we arrive in Spain!

Less than two week ago, Cisco announced our latest Mobile VNI forecast, and it seems like everyone is stopping to take notice of what the numbers say.

In the past week, five major customers announced their partnership with Cisco in deploying our Mobile Internet solutions:

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Tags: 4G, 4G LTE, AT&T, Cisco, DT, du, john chambers, lg u+, magyar telekom, mobile internet, mobile video, mobile world congress, mobility, mwc, Orange, Service Provider, Shaw, Telefonica Spain, V2oLTE, videoscape, vni, vodafone hungary

Every few months there seems to be a rumor or speculative comment about our commitment to our set top box business.  Let me be as clear as I can: we love set top boxes.  But, you don’t have to believe me.  Let me point you to Cisco’s Q2 Fy12 earnings transcript where Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers stated, in part:

“In terms of set top boxes, we are very much committed to this marketplace. Our SP customers asked us to partner with them as they move from traditional set top boxes to IP set top boxes to the cloud, our Videoscape solution. Receptivity so far has been very, very good in terms of our strategy.”

(February 8, 2012)

His full comment is below which gives you a little more flavor of our commitment to our Videoscape solution, but I hope that this clarifies any erroneous, un-sourced comments that might be out there in the marketplace.

John Chambers full comment (page 6): “Our video strategy is in very good shape. We have by far and away the strongest end-to-end architecture for video going from the cloud to the end device, enabled by our Medianet architecture and the Videoscape platform. This makes video much more practical, easier to use, and easier to consume.  Along with Cloud and mobility, video is one of the most significant transitions our SP and Enterprise customers are experiencing. Following a very strong Q1, SP video had another very strong quarter with 23% revenue growth year over year. In terms of set top boxes, we are very much committed to this marketplace. Our SP customers asked us to partner with them as they move from traditional set top boxes to IP set top boxes to the cloud, our Videoscape solution. Receptivity so far has been very, very good in terms of our strategy. We have demonstrated our capability to bring video to large volumes of any combination of devices whether it is Cisco, our peers and even our competitors.”

Tags: john chambers, set top box, videoscape