Cisco updates target enterprise video boom

Cisco is to add video endpoint technology to its enterprise collaboration devices as the company looks to meet an expected surge in demand for video.

The move will extend to the Tandberg end-points acquired in April, starting with the IP Video Phone E20 this quarter as part of Cisco's continued integration of the two companies' products.

All Cisco video- and voice-enabled devices will now connect through Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UCM) to offer a streamlined system for managing calls, the firm said.

Tim Stone, head of collaboration solutions at Cisco, told V3.co.uk that UCM will simplify the management of video-based technology in the coming years.

"Gartner expects there to be some 200 million video-enabled desktop devices in five years' time, so there is a clear need for enterprises and SMEs to have this capability. By adding video endpoints to all our devices we can meet this demand," he said.

"The UCM platform can give users a very simple call control platform that can host all manner of products, such as WebEx, the Cisco Cius tablet and other client devices, on a common platform with one-button-to-push calling functionality."

Cisco also announced two new collaboration end-point devices designed for the mid-enterprise market, the TelePresence EX60 and the TelePresence System 500 32.

Both have been designed to offer video collaboration around 30 per cent more cheaply than the devices already in these portfolios to help drive video deployments, Stone explained. The devices will be launched this quarter.

"The 500 32, for example, is five inches smaller than the existing 500 37 series, so those in restricted areas or smaller offices can still benefit from this technology," he said.

Cisco has also announced an update to its Telepresence directory to include all Cisco and Tandberg systems and help customers determine where they could schedule meetings around the world.

Finally, the company confirmed that a version of WebEx Meeting Centre will offer 360p video capabilities to provide full-screen desktop videoconferencing. The offering will be released in the fourth quarter, and will run on the iPad and the Cius.

Stone explained that a new feature called ActivePresence allows the speaker in a WebEx meeting to be brought to the front while still displaying the other callers, something he claimed is unique to Cisco equipment.

"We can also use interoperability standards to push this function to users on other endpoints from the likes of Polycom, Avaya and LifeSize," he said.