Cisco Seeks to Impact the “Internet of Everything”
Cisco Seeks to Impact the “Internet of Everything” by UCStrategies Staff
Cisco has dubbed industry mobility and the cloud as “The Internet of Everything,” and places focus on software applications. However, Cisco also adds that it is in an ideal position from which it can embrace transition, despite its links to networking gear and hardware.
At UBM Tech’s Enterprise Connect conference in Orlando, Florida, the president of development and Sales at Cisco, Rob Lloyd, commented on particular methods through which tools for collaboration and the Internet of Everything (the way through which objects from our everyday lives can interact with each other via WiFi and embedded sensors) will begin to impact our social worlds.
Lloyd also noted that Cisco does not have further plans to cease its investment in hardware, and this includes things like TelePresence end points. However, the company is also becoming more concerned with its software play.
Lloyd said: “It's hardware and software that actually makes this whole transformation possible. We are talking about exploding the number of end points exponentially – but we have a focus inside the company and are focusing on software. I think the Internet of Everything is about hardware and software working together and exploding the number of end points. That will be good for all of us, and that will be good for Cisco.”
Furthermore, it would appear that Cisco is in a good position from which to take advantage of the opportunity provided through smart devices which have been introduced through the Internet of Everything.
Lloyd added: “I think you will see purpose-built hardware, and a lot more IP-enabled devices – all of our televisions, all of our appliances are now coming with these capabilities. So hardware is fundamental to delivering this and programmable ASICs, and how this all stitches together in a scalable infrastructure will be part of the Internet of Everything.”
In relation to the cloud, Cisco will be providing UC-as-a-Service in conjunction with its Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) platform of cloud-based applications, and these are already being made available by partners of Cisco such as NWN and Ingram Micro.
Lloyd stated: “So I think those two [solutions] together form our strategy and, obviously, we do see customers looking at collaboration as the No. 3 cloud application, and I think we're going to see that at a tipping point. I actually think we are going to see that accelerate in the next few years.”
New video solutions for the enterprise, and Cisco’s integration between its WebEx and TelePresence collaboration tools have also recently been showcased. (CY) Link