Cisco Company Profile
Website: http://www.cisco/com/telepresence/
Headquarters: San Jose, California
Founded: 1985
Public/Private: Public - NASDAQ: CSCO
Company Details
Industry Categories: Telepresence Managed Service Provider, Telepresence Hardware Manufacturer, Telepresence Network Provider
Key Executives:
- John Chambers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
- Marthin De Beer, Senior Vice President, Emerging Technologies Group
- Chuck Stucki, General Manager, TelePresence Business Unit
- David Hsieh, Senior Director Solutions Marketing
- Erica Schroeder, Senior Marketing Manager
- Randy Harrell, Director of Product Marketing
- Phil Graham, Senior Director of Engineering
Key Customers: Wal-Mart, Procter & Gamble, Yahoo, BT, Verizon Business, HSBC, EMC, Wachovia, SAP and McKesson
Telepresence Systems
Cisco CTS 3000 - A modular telepresence system, accommodating up to 6 participants per room creating a virtual table for 12 participants when connected to another CTS 3000. The system features ultra high definition 1080p video delivered to three 65" plasma screens. Multi-channel CD-quality spatial audio comes from the direction of the remote participant that is speaking. This system will fit into an existing space with a minimum amount of make-ready and features an integrated table, lighting, microphone, and camera all optimized for the environment. Calls can be scheduled using groupware applications such as MS Outlook and Lotus Notes and then launched with the push of a button or launched ad-hoc by dialing another room's phone number from a handset in the room. The system also comes in an 18 seat version, the Cisco TelePresence 3200.
Pricing: The CTS 3000 Solution costs $299,000 while the larger CTS 3200 is $340,000.
Cisco CTS 1000 - Cisco TelePresence with a smaller footprint for executives and small groups. The CTS 1000 has many of the same features of the CTS 3000 (1080p ultra high definition video, cd-quality audio, plug & play data collaboration, etc.) and connects seamlessly with the other members of the Cisco TelePresence family.
Pricing: The base price is $79,000.
Cisco CTS 500 - The CTS 500 has the same features and compatibility with the rest of the Cisco TelePresence solutions with an even smaller footprint for executive offices.
Pricing: $99,000
Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch - The Cisco Telepresence Multipoint Switch is a purpose-built appliance that provides multi-point (multi-location) capabilities for Cisco TelePresence systems. The switch can connect up to 48 single-screen systems, 16 three-screen systems, or a mix of both into a single meeting. The system can provide both voice-activated site-by-site switching promoting the site which spoke last or segment switching which promotes the last segment (I.E. single screen) that spoke. The switch keeps the multi-channel spatial audio faithful as well maintaining the seating locations and sound direction even as multiple sites are switched in and out of prominence. The switch also provides inter-operability with standards-based H.320, H.323, SIP, or SCCP video conferencing endpoints.
Network and Managed Services
Network Requirements - Cisco Telepresence requires high bandwidth and Quality-of-Service across the Wide Area Network (WAN) to operate. Cisco estimates that less than 15% of corporate WANs have the bandwidth or Quality-of-Service (QoS) to support Cisco TelePresence. Organizations wanting to deploy Cisco TelePresence will need to upgrade their WAN or deploy a dedicated overlay network to each location to support the application. Cisco has developed the Cisco-Certified TelePresence Network Connection program for service providers to ensure their networks meet the level of quality required for TelePresence as well as meet industry and regulatory standards for network architecture, management and performance including measurement, staff, processes and tools. Cisco-Certified TelePresence Providers Include: AT&T, BT Global Services, Sprint, TATA Communications, TELUS, Verizon Business, and XO Communications.
Managed Services - For those organizations interested in outsourcing the management and maintenance of their TelePresence solutions there are number of firms that provide managed services around Cisco TelePresence. Managed Services can include: Hosted TelePresence infrastructure, concierge-class help desk and reservation, and network management / troubleshooting. Managed service providers supporting Cisco TelePresence include: BT Conferencing, Glowpoint, and WireOne.
Key Features and Differentiators
Cisco Videoconferencing and Network Infrastructure - Cisco provides a complete line of compatible videoconferencing and network infrastructure that is completely compatible with Cisco TelePresence. From videoconferencing Session Border Controllers and Multipoint Control Units to networking gear such as routers and switches, Cisco offers a comprehensive solution.
Cisco Unified Communications - Interoperability with Cisco's Unified Communications platform promises robust future capabilities for TelePresence. From telephony features such as TelePresence call waiting, call forwarding, and "T-mail" to seamless integration with VoIP, desktop video, and mobile video the TelePresence product roadmap looks promising indeed!
The Cisco On-Stage TelePresence Experience - At the launch of Cisco's Globalisation Centre East in Bangalore, India in October of 2007, Cisco demonstrated an upcoming telepresence experience dubbed "On-Stage" which featured life-size interactive representations of Cisco SVP Marthin De Beer and Cisco TelePresence Business Unit GM Chuck Stucki from San Jose who interacted in real time with Cisco CEO John Chambers and audience members.
Telepresence Options Analysis
At this writing Cisco TelePresence is approaching its' second anniversary. The company has sold about 1000 TelePresence systems to around 200 companies and has deployed over 269 internal systems throughout the Cisco empire across 108 cities and 32 countries as well. More importantly over the past two years Cisco and its partners have been steadily improving the functionality and utility of the offering.
The company has rolled out a compatible single screen executive system, the 500, and the 3200, an 18 seat version of the 3000. They have added multi-point capabilities; interoperability with standards based videoconferencing, and continue to improve the capacity of their TelePresence multi-point switch. The company also rolled out inter-company telepresence and partnered with global network providers like AT&T and BT to enable inter-company capabilities on their networks. Tata Communications has begun deploying publicly available TelePresence solutions in Taj Hotels, Resorts, and Palaces that should, eventually, be effectively inter-connected with some percentage of enterprise Cisco TelePresence deployments further extending the utility of the offering.
Cisco has also been experimenting with next generation solutions and has demonstrated an on-stage TelePresence experience with display provider Musion that transported life-size virtual executives to Cisco's Globalization Center in Bangalore to present to the crowd and interact with the very real John Chambers. In summary, while Cisco is a relatively new player in building their own visual collaboration solutions, the company and their partners have demonstrated both significant success in the marketplace and a track record of continuing innovation.
