02/14, 9:50am
Cisco annual report shows mobile data spikes
Cisco in a yearly state-of-affairs report on Tuesday showed both a rapid growth in data and aggressive predictions for the next four years. Mobile data use had grown 133 percent over the course of 2011, which it didn't see slowing down. As mobile viewers got more devices as well as faster connections, video use would become 70 percent of mobile data and lead to 18 times more data used per year in 2016, at 10.8 exabytes every month.
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01/24, 10:45am
Linksys Powerline AV gets 3 new models
Cisco's Linksys badge brought out three new powerline networking kits for those who prefer or need mostly wired links. The PLEK400 one-port kit, PLSK400 four-port kit, and PLW400 wireless extender all run on the HomePlug standard and can reach up to 200Mbps. Linksys is vowing a small design that makes it practical to hook up other devices to the local wall outlet.
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01/17, 4:35pm
World IPv6 Day to launch standard is June 6
The IPv6 Internet addressing standard will get a more formal launch by its backers on June 6, which is being devoted World IPv6 Day. Seven global ISPs will back the new standard then, including AT&T, Comcast and Time Warner. Also onboard are heavily trafficked websites, including Facebook, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft's Bing, as well as hardware makers Cisco and D-Link.
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01/04, 11:05am
Cisco stops selling Umi video conferencing gear
Cisco has stopped sales of its Umi video conferencing system Umi that has been price-dropped and re-branded for business use, SAI learned. While an official announcement to this effect hasn't been made by Cisco, a spokesperson confirmed to the source Cisco has stopped selling the system. When the system launched, it was expensive at $600 and included a 720p camera, controller and set-top box. In March, it was discounted to $400.
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12/14, 5:10pm
Higher bandwidth coming closer to last mile users
Eight metropolitan areas will soon be getting high-speed "middle-mile" networks. These are the backbones that feed the "last mile" that bring broadband services to customers and businesses. Last week, the city-owned DC Community Access Network (DC-CAN) lit up its 100-gigabit network in Washington, DC, while earlier this week, Verizon said it was upgrading seven cities in its FiOS backbone network to similar speeds.
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12/06, 11:45am
Apple cannot sue Proview over iPad name
Apple on Tuesday was reported as having had a lawsuit tossed in China over claims a small firm was violating the iPad trademark. The Shenzhen-area Southern Metropolis Daily said that the Intermediate People's Court dismissed the case against Proview Technology based on time to file. Proview had filed for the trademark in 2000, several years before work had even started on the iPad.
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11/30, 1:30pm
Cisco to bring out two Cius tablets in 2012
Cisco has plans to follow up its enterprise-oriented seven-inch Cius tablet with at least two potential successors, CNET learned. A larger and smaller version are due in the spring and fall of next year, respectively. The current tablet uses Android but is optimized for business use with a slew of security software. It also docks into phone stations for desk use.
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11/25, 11:15am
Cisco, Telia test 120Gbps network at DreamHack
Network gear maker Cisco and Swedish provider Telia at the DreamHack LAN event in Sweden yesterday tested their world record-setting 120Gbps Internet connection. All of the estimated 20,000 attendees were invited to test the connection, which runs the more than 186 miles between Stockholm and Jönköping. Previously, record speeds set at DreamHack were 20 gigabits.
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11/07, 9:50am
VirnetX tries to force cash settlement through ITC
VirnetX revealed on Monday that its latest lawsuit against Apple was being joined by a matching International Trade Commission dispute. The complaint touches on the same VPN-related patent used in the main lawsuit and which VirnetX has tried to wield against large parts of the technology industry. It hopes not just to ban future iPad, iPhone, iPod, and Mac sales but to stop all marketing and sales around whatever is currently in stores should it win.
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10/25, 11:10am
AT&T to ship wireless TV receiver on October 31
AT&T has just introduced its latest U-verse TV accessory, the TV Wireless Receiver (PDF). Due on October 31, it will connect to the company's residential gateway and send broadcasts over Wi-Fi from the receiver to the TV. This lets customers put TV sets in rooms or other places, such as patios or backyards, where there are no TV outlets.
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10/04, 12:35pm
Innovatio IP wants settlements from franchises
Innovatio IP Ventures, a company that owns a portfolio of patents reportedly tied to Wi-Fi technology, has began suing coffee shops, grocery stores, restaurants and hotels for allegedly infringing upon those patents. According to PatentExaminer, the company's strategy is to prey on ill-prepared franchises rather than parent companies and offering them the option of settling for between $2,300 and $5,000. Innovatio is represented by Niro, Haller & Niro, the firm associated with patent trolls from the time the term was coined.
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08/24, 12:05am
Samsung intros four Galaxy phones for IFA 2011
Samsung ramped up the launch of four new smartphones under a previously hinted new naming scheme. The Galaxy W hits the new mid-range and runs on a 1.4GHz, single-core chip with a 3.7-inch display. It still as much of the modern TouchWiz interface on top of Android 2.3 and supports up to 14.4Mbps HSPA for reasonably fast 3G.
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07/19, 2:40pm
Cisco outs $130 dual-band home theater bridge
Cisco on Tuesday introduced its new Linksys WES610N 802.11n Wi-Fi dual-band entertainment bridge. The device will bring together any home theater device with an Ethernet port onto a home wireless network, be they set-top boxes, HDTVs or games consoles. It can offer speeds up to 300Mbps and has multiple antennas for greater range.
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07/13, 2:40pm
Cius Wi-Fi tablet ships at Verizon this summer
The Cisco Cius tablet that went on pre-order back in April will ship this summer, Verizon announced on Wednesday. The pro Android tablet will initially, however, only be available to Verizon's enterprise and government customers. It will be the Wi-Fi version of the slate, with no built-in 3G or 4G.
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07/11, 11:10pm
Workforce to be reduced by 14%
Cisco is reportedly preparing to reduce its workforce by approximately 14 percent, a move that may eliminate 10,000 positions. The company is said to be planning 7,000 layoffs by the end of August, while early-retirement incentives will be offered to another 3,000 employees, unnamed sources have told Bloomberg.
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07/01, 10:00am
Cisco launches AppHQ for $750 Cius tablet
Cisco has launched a new app platform for its enterprise-centric Cius tablet. Its new AppHQ includes a relatively small collection of both free and paid apps. The new app ecosystem is also designed to allow companies to create private, custom branded application storefronts for employees to find publish and download applications for business use. The AppHQ platform is developer-friendly with a range of tools being made available for developers to create enterprise apps.
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06/17, 9:05pm
Time Warner Cable iPad app to hit 2.0 late June
A tell-all document escaped on Friday night has detailed some of Time Warner Cable's plans to revamp its TW Cable TV iPad app and tweak its DVRs. The 2.0 version of the app would bring a full interactive guide as well as turn the iPad into a direct remote control for the set-top box, Engadget saw. Owners would get the option of remotely scheduling a DVR when it's available.
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05/18, 6:05pm
Linksys and WebEx may be on the block
Cisco on Wednesday denied that it was planning to sell off Linksys. While it said it would cut the Flip line as part of its return to a "network-centric platform strategy," it told the Register that it wouldn't confirm or deny rumors. The company also didn't discuss talk that its WebEx web conferencing service was also up for grabs.
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05/13, 10:30am
Cisco to stop supporting FlipShare by end of 2013
Cisco announced this week users who uploaded photos and videos to the company's FlipShare Web Service have 30 days from May 12 to back them up or face having them erased. Cisco discontinued the Flip brand in mid-April among fierce competition from cellphone cameras. Flip has posted a guide online on how users can back up their videos from FlipShare.
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05/12, 11:45am
Verizon short on network outage details
At the Business Innovation Forum in California on Wednesday, Verizon Wireless executive director of LTE didn't provide any direct reasons for the network's outage late in April. When pressed, Brian Higgins told the audience Verizon took steps to ensure the problem won't reoccur, but did not provide any details on why it happened or which of its vendors is to blame, ConnectedPlanet wrote on Wednesday. The company's 3G and LTE networks went out for 24 hours across the US.
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05/11, 9:45am
Cisco Cius not coming for ATT 3G until fall
Cisco both bolstered and faced setbacks its plans for tablets in the workforce with plans for an AT&T-native version of the Cius. The seven-inch Android tablet will come with HSPA+ 3G for AT&T's network but won't ship until the fall, several months after the basic version. The Cius can still handle video and voice calls both in "wired environments," using the phone dockm as well as over wireless.
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04/29, 7:25pm
Cisco multi-purpose router shows at FCC
The Cisco REN301 Residential Gateway Wi-Fi router has shown at the FCC undergoing compliance testing prior to its release. The device is a single-band router that supports 802.11 b/g/n and incorporates a color LCD display. It also includes capacitive touch buttons that allows the device to be set up and configured without the need to use a PC.
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04/25, 2:45pm
WebM Community Cross-License guards video patents
The WebM Project took a defensive measure on Monday with the creation of the WebM Community Cross-License. The approach will see 17 companies and groups give licenses to any WebM-related patents they have to other CCL members. Google, Matroska, and Xiph.org form the core but are joined by AMD, Cisco, Huawei, LG, Logitech, MIPS, Mozilla, Opera, Pantech, Quanta, Samsung, STMicro, TI, and Verisilicon.
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04/24, 7:40pm
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet to use Honeycomb and pens
Lenovo's plans for Android tablets beyond the Le Pad should take it into professional models based on a leaked presentation from Sunday. Called the ThinkPad Tablet, it would be the first known Lenovo slate with Android 3.0 and would make software customizations beyond just including the PC builder's already known Family UI interface. This is my next's copy of the slides showed "seamless integration" with corporate environments that would load up Cisco remote security tools, Computrace to find stolen tablets, as well as local security tools from McAfee and Symantec.
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04/15, 5:00pm
Cisco's stillborn FlipLive camera spotted
An image of the FlipLive, Cisco's latest camera in its now discontinued Flip range, has shown up online thanks to Gizmodo. The camera, which would have the ability to stream video to the cloud, would have been the company's most advanced product. Cisco announced it was exiting the portable digital video camera business the day before the FlipLive was supposed to be announced.
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04/15, 4:55pm
Supreme Court hearing tech patent validity case
The US Supreme Court at a session on Monday will hear Microsoft call to change patent law in a way that could help both the Windows developer and many other technology firms fend off patent troll lawsuits. The motion will attempt to change a rule that requires a defending company provide absolute, definitive evidence that a patent is invalid in order to avoid a guilty verdict. Under Microsoft's proposal, courts could invalidate patents only by requiring that the majority of evidence supports rejecting the patent.
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04/15, 2:50pm
Cisco to begin shipping Cius tablet in April, May
The Cius business tablet introduced last June is now available for pre-order, Cisco announced on Friday. The seven-inch, Android-powered tablet can be ordered through a Cisco field agent or or resllers. The tablets will begin shipping towards the end of April and throughout May.
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04/14, 4:40pm
FlipLive was imminent before Cisco backed off
Cisco was to have unveiled a first-of-its-kind livestreaming pocket camcorder before it killed the Flip brand, a new post-mortem scoop uncovered. Named the FlipLive, it would have not just connected to Wi-Fi but would have shared video in real-time. A product manager had briefed the New York Times that the new Flip would have allowed sharing a link through e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter that would take users directly to the streaming page.
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04/13, 11:10pm
Intel has Android 3 strategy, paying chip subsidy
Intel's plans to support Android 3.0 on x86 may include paying incentives to get developers onboard. The chip designer was said on Wednesday to be paying a $10 chip subsidy to "first-tier notebook vendors" if they make a tablet using an Intel processor. One of those spotted by Digitimes would include an unannounced Cisco tablet using the Atom Z670 (Oak Trail) that would bring Android 3.0 to enterprise users.
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04/12, 9:30am
Cisco kills Flip camera line
Cisco today axed its Flip camera division in a bid to bring the company back into shape. The company provided few details but said its new "network-centric platform strategy" meant the former Pure Digital group had to be closed. Those on the FlipShare service would be supported through a "transition plan," though Cisco didn't say what that was.
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04/05, 11:00am
iPad 2 joins list of targeted products
VirnetX is expanding the scope of lawsuits targeting several major technology corporations, according to an announcement. The company has won a new patent from the USPTO, Agile Network Protocol for Secure Communications Using Secure Domain Names, which it is amending to complaints in two separate suits. The first case lists Aastra, Apple, Cisco and NEC as defendants; the second is leveled against Mitel and Siemens.
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04/05, 7:30am
Cisco remakes rest of lineup with new design
Cisco today revamped the rest of its E-series routers and SE-series switches to match the design aesthetic of the E4200. The E1200 and E1500 make up the baseline and provide 300Mbps 802.11n Wi-Fi only on the 2.4GHz band along with four 100Mbps Ethernet ports. The E1500 adds a SpeedBoost function along with a third receiver and an external signal amp to get the signal faster.
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03/08, 12:35am
Entry price now dropped to $399
Cisco has announced that its HDTV-based ūmi video conferencing system is now compatible with the company's range of TelePresence systems for businesses. The interoperability is claimed to enable businesses to take advantage of video communication for services such as distance learning, healthcare, and community services.
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03/07, 2:50pm
AT&T to bring out Cisco set-top box with Wi-Fi
AT&T on Monday announced it will soon offer a set-top box equipped with Wi-Fi. The Cisco ISB7005 will be offered to U-Verse customers and has just gone through FCC testing. The device will have Wi-Fi but, rather than use it for local network sharing, will let users receive TV signals without the need to connect a co-axial cable.
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03/03, 12:35pm
Cites doubled profits, iPad 2 event
For a fourth year in a row, Fortune has once again identified Apple as its Most Admired company in the world. Apple has an overall score of 8.16. "The company's blistering pace of new product releases has continued to set the bar high for tech companies across the board," Fortune writes.
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03/02, 10:00am
Logitech hints Android Market on Google TV soon
Logitech Digital Home Group VP Ashish Arora gave clues at OTTCon on Tuesday that the promised Android Market for Google TV was coming soon. He vowed that it would not only come this year but that it should be available in the "very short term." The executive added that apps from the Market wouldn't be isolated widget apps and could link its own content to TV.
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02/18, 12:35pm
Jobs, Zuckerberg get prominent seats
Several major US technology executives have been officially photographed with President Obama at a dinner meeting on Thursday night. As expected, three people on the guest list included Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Google's Eric Schmidt, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Jobs and Zuckerberg were notably given the most prominent positions during the dinner, seated directly to the left and right of the President.
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02/17, 10:45am
Demands come despite federal budgetary crisis
A variety of technology corporations are among those pressuring the US government to give them a preferential tax break, sources tell Fortune. Apple, Cisco, Pfizer and Duke Energy are specifically named as lobbying politicians for a tax "holiday" in regards to repatriated cash. Whereas the companies would normally be obligated to pay 35 percent, their goal is allegedly to pay just 5 percent.
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02/07, 2:45pm
Cisco to buy out Inlet for $95 million by July
Cisco Systems is planning on buying out Inlet Technologies for $95 million in an effort to bolster its streaming video abilities, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. The deal would help users access video on handheld devices. The deal should be completed by the first half of the year and will integrate Inlet employees into Cisco's service provider video technology group.
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01/27, 9:35pm
Flip Video camcorders to get Wi-Fi
An FCC filing published today has confirmed that Cisco is developing a Wi-Fi version of its Flip Video cameras. The M3260 has been tested using 802.11n Wi-Fi along with the requisite HDMI and USB connectors. The purpose of the wireless isn't clear, but it would likely be used to share video on a local network and possibly to upload video directly to YouTube or Facebook.
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01/19, 12:00am
Cisco claims speed on fringe with Linksys E4200
Cisco undertook a major rethink of its Linksys home Wi-Fi routers on Wednesday through the E4200. The design is a major restyling with a more upscale, conservative look but also focuses much more on performance. It can peak at 450Mbps on the 5GHz 802.11n band and has six antennas along with amplifiers that provide faster speed at the edges of the wireless range.
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01/11, 6:10am
Android tablet, video conferencing focused
The Cisco Cius Enterprise tablet first announced unveiled in June 2010 is set to land on Verizon’s LTE network. The Android-based tablet is designed to leverage Cisco’s expertise in Enterprise video conferencing, as well as serve as a general purpose tablet. The two companies used CES 2011 to announce the partnership and said that the device would start shipping in March after several months of testing in real-world Enterprise contexts.
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12/06, 1:00pm
Brings video, hosting options
Cisco has released v2.0 of WebEx for iPad. The app lets users participate in online WebEx meetings, which allow for audio and data communication. The title now also supports video, with up to four separate streams selectable through a carousel. A fullscreen option is available, and stream quality adjusts automatically; participants must, however, be on Wi-Fi in order to get video.
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11/12, 6:30pm
Cisco gets Papermaster after Apple exit
Cisco has signed on former Apple Senior VP Mark Papermaster, the firm said this evening. The network giant has hired the recently departed executive to help engineer "chips for switches" and likely other equipment like routers. Terms of the deal haven't been made public.
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11/10, 5:40pm
Cisco fixes downed media center extenders
Last weekend, Cisco's discontinued DMA2100 and DMA2200 Media Center Extenders went down for an unknown reason, and the company today has provided an explanation. While many feared Cisco had remotely disabled the boxes after they attempted to contact a non-existent server, Engadget was told that Cisco had rebooted the server for maintenance and then realized there was an issue with a certificate server. The issue is now fixed, and those who tried workarounds such as configuring routers to block any traffic from the extender or assigning an invalid gateway can now return to the base settings.
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10/27, 6:45pm
RIM shares spike on takeover talk, Cisco possible
Research in Motion shares have jumped almost eight percent in the past two days over rumors that the BlackBerry creator may be a takeover target. The possible buyer hasn't been named, but Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu speculated that Cisco would make the most sense were the rumor to be true. RIM's strength in business was considered a good fit and could help Cisco's "'secret' consumer ambitions," he said.
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10/06, 5:50pm
Ciscotelepresence system coming this month
Cisco has introduced its ūmi telepresence video conferencing system for existing HDTVs on Wednesday. It is made up of a 1080p camera module, dedicated remote, and a set-top box. The setup can deliver 1080p video calls with 720p recording at 30fps, but can reduce quality to 720p/480p as needed when bandwidth is at a premium.
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09/30, 12:10pm
Jawbone, Cisco bring out corporate BT headset
Jawbone headset maker Aliph and Cisco have partnered up on a new Bluetooth headset, the Jawbone Icon for Cisco. Based on the standard Jawbone Icon, the device will automatically pair with cell and Cisco Unified IP phones at the same time. From the headset, users can answer calls from either their desk or cell phone in sequence.
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09/20, 12:00am
Flip Mino, Ultra upgraded as we review Ultra HD
Cisco tonight unveiled a new slate of Flip cameras that promise a major lift in video quality. The Flip Ultra HD 2 hour and both 1 hour (4GB) and 2 hour (8GB) versions of the Flip Mino HD now shoot 720p video at 60 frames per second, improving their ability to handle motion and the perceived clarity. A gyroscopic image stabilization system is also new and prevents many of the more sudden jitters common to a pocket camcorder.
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08/26, 10:55am
TiVo still developing tru2way, DirecTV due 2010
During a quarterly earnings call this week, DVR maker TiVo revealed that it is still working on bringing tru2way technology to its set-top boxes. This would allow two-way interaction over cable set-tops, including services such as games, chat, web browsing and shopping. At the same time, CEO Tom Rogers said DirecTV TiVo is still scheduled for a 2010 release, but there is now some doubt as to whether this can happen before 2011.
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