Critical.
Authoritative.
Strategic.
Subscribe to CIO Magazine »

Cisco launches Videoscape TV platform

New Cisco technology allows viewing of video content from multiple sources, including cloud networks

Cisco this week unveiled a TV platform it said will let service providers combine digital TV and online content with other communications applications, including social networking tools.

The Videoscape platform includes an IP set-top box and technology called the Cisco Conductor, which the company said links a cloud network to client devices of all types.

Videoscape can provide users with "an infinite source of content," Cisco CEO, John Chambers, told media at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week. "Videoscape allows any device over any network to get to any content that is authorized."

Cisco has predicted that video will make up 90 per cent of all consumer Internet traffic by 2014, an seven-fold increase over today.

Chambers said the Videoscape offering builds on many other Cisco forays into video technology, including the Flip video camera and Umi home videoconferencing system.

Chambers said a TV viewer using Videoscape could watch a basketball game as well as obtain on-screen information from friends in a social network, as well as video content supported by a given communications carrier.

Chambers and Jim Grubb, Cisco's chief demonstration officer, demonstrated how Videoscape can receive content from a Flip camera and display it on an Android smartphone. They also showd how multiple screens on an iPad can receive wireless video inputs, with one small thumbnail expanded to a full screen image of streaming video.

The Videoscape Conductor software shows where the content originates and moves through the network to various devices, Chambers and Grubb explained.

Media gateway gear will also allow video 'tagging' to move specific video programs to be identified for forwarding to certain other network links.

Chambers described the Videoscape announcement as "small steps" and didn't list carriers that are currently working with Videoscape, though many video content partners, including NetFlix, were shown on-screen. Telstra was named as a partner though it wasn't clear whether the Australian service provider had immediate plans to implement Videoscape.

Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

More about: Cisco, Consumer Electronics, Telstra
References show all

Comments

1

John Thompson

Thu 06/01/2011 - 10:43

Isn't this too little too late?

Gaming platforms such as the xbox sport connectivity to the likes of ESPN and Netflix. You can use the xbox as a media player serving up content from PCs and storage devices. It also includes a DVD drive not to mention some pretty nice games!

You can also use the xbox to connect to Live Messenger using a cheap web cam or the newer Kinect device.

I prefer a big screen to view rather than tablets and smart phones- maybe I wouldn't be the target market for yet another device under the TV.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Users posting comments agree to the CIO comments policy.
Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.
Related Coverage
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
Tags: cloud computing, internet, mobile, Mobile and Wireless, Mobile Apps and Services, Telecommunication
Latest Blog Posts
Whitepapers
  • Leveraging the Service Catalog to Scale Your MSP Business
    When assessing an MSP’s maturity and prospects, one question provides more insights than any other: “What’s in your service catalog?” A well-defined service catalog can set the framework for growth. The lack of a service catalog can significantly impede an MSP’s ability to scale. This paper explores why the service catalog is so vital, and provides some practical guidelines MSPs can apply in order to ensure their service catalog provides maximum utility and benefit.
    Learn more »
  • Seven Tips for Securing Mobile Workers
    Seven Tips for Securing Mobile Workers is intended to offer practical guidance on dealing with one of the fastest growing threats to the security of sensitive and confidential information.
    Learn more »
  • HP Managed Print Services solutioning methodology
    Many organisations launch initiatives to increase the efficiency of their imaging and printing environment—only to quickly find that maintaining those improvements is the real challenge. Sustainable, long-term efficiency gains require that imaging and printing be approached as part of your organisation’s overall IT strategy. Read more.
    Learn more »
All whitepapers
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis.
Recent comments