Expert Opinion

Cisco Courts Consumers at Home and at Work

Cisco’s mantra continues to be about networking and collaboration, and that is what it continues to offer consumers and busy executives with an array of products.

Leonard Grace

Jul 15, 2010 — 3 min read

: Image by louisvolant via Flickr

Cisco’s mantra continues to be about networking and collaboration, and that is what it continues to offer consumers and busy executives with an array of products.

Cisco Cius

Starting with the newly introduced Cisco Cius at the Cisco live conference in Las Vegas, it promises to take business collaboration to the next level with its HD quality video and wireless desk-top integration. From collaborating at the office or from a remote location the Cius makes it possible to keep you in touch with what is important in your business.

Features include Cisco network centric:

Tools include:

Webex Collaboration Cloud
Cisco Telepresence
- Real-time collaboration
Cisco Quad Collaboration
- integrating business apps with social networking tools, with VoIP, instant messaging, video, and calendars
Forward and Rear facing cameras
- Forward for HD Video 720p
- Rear for 640×480 video and still image captures
Cloud Apps
Docking

It does not matter where you are when collaboration takes place because the Cius brings you front and center with real time business integration.

Cisco Valet

With consumers in mind, the Cisco Valet is a simple but yet ingenious wireless router for the home priced at $99.00, and makes connecting the whole home Wi-Fi experience a fast and easy task, which historically could be somewhat of nightmare. The Valet soothes consumers into “easily connecting your family’s computer, games and devices to the internet”.

Features:

Get Connected
- Create a wireless hotspot in your home and quickly connect your laptops, desktops, game consoles, and mobile devices to the Internet. Treat your family to an Internet experience that simplifies your life.
You’re the Boss
- Parental controls allow you to limit your kids’ time online, block specific sites and/or certain times of the day. Customize the settings on each computer for a safer Internet experience.
Set Up in Minutes
- Simply insert Valet’s included Easy Setup Key to launch Cisco Connect software, breeze through the simple screens, and you’re wireless.
Instant Guess Access
- Give friends and visitors password access to the Internet but not your private information.

Cisco Flip

With its announcement on March 19, 2009, Cisco purchases Pure Digital Technologies, Inc, maker of the Flip, while increasing its brand in consumer technologies. Ned Hooper, senior vice president of Cisco’s Corporate Development and Consumer Groups communicated that, “The acquisition of Pure Digital is key to Cisco’s strategy to expand our momentum in the media-enabled home and to capture the consumer market transition to visual networking.” The Flip allowed consumers to instantly capture, edit and share video with family, friends and colleagues then organize, edit and immediately share with YouTube, MySpace and other networking sites.

Fast forward to April 13, 2010, Cisco announces the launch of the All-New Flip SlideHD which can capture events and replay them immediately to friends or family. Consumers will be allowed to shoot four hours of HD video while storing twelve hours on the SlideHD, and it travels with you when needed sharing video with anyone, anywhere.

Specifications:

Color: White/Silver and Personalized
Recording Time: Up to four hours
Storage Time: Up to 12 Hours
Memory: 16GB
Screen: 3-inch wide transflective touch screen
Video Resolution: High Definition; 1280×720 (30fps)
Video Format: H.264, MP4
Battery: Internal Li-ion rechargeable
Battery Life: Up to two hours
TV Output: HDMI Widescreen
Zoom: 2x digital
Audio: Stereo speakers, headset jack

The Flip SlideHD is priced at $279.99 at major retailers, online retailers and at the Flip Store.

Cisco Flip MinoPRO camcorder

First in a series of the enterprise-class Cisco Prosumer Video solution camcorder products, The Flip MinoPRO enhances business process and improves collaboration by allowing the capture of video content for secure editing and sharing.

Benefits:

Added dynamic component to messages:
- Record earnings calls, company announcements, and product demos to improve delivery of communications within and outside of organizations.
Improved information delivery and retention:
- Use video capture to share best practices, sales techniques, and complex processes and designs to increase collaboration.
Reduced global barriers and travel costs:
- Provide video training instead of spending the time and money to travel.
Ease of use:
- Spend more time producing relevant content with the easy-to-use Cisco Flip MinoPRO camcorder.

Cisco continues to raise the bar in both consumer and business collaboration with its video integration and communications processes through the web, making and it both easy and affordable for next generation technology to serve customer needs.