Press Release Archive

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Open First TelePresence Suite in Ireland

DUBLIN, Ireland - April 3, 2008 - Cisco today launched the first Cisco® TelePresence Suite in Ireland. The Cisco TelePresence Meeting solution provides an opportunity to hold meetings without travelling but still benefit from a 'face-to-face' conversation.

"Technology has had a positive impact on business operations worldwide", said Michael Galvin, Country Manager Cisco Ireland. "Cisco's TelePresence provides a technology solution to improve critical business relationships, users experience subtleties and nuance of conversations wherever they are in the world - improving productivity, speeding decision making and helping to reduce business' carbon footprint. It is simple to use, provides great quality life-size images and is reliable," continued Galvin.

Speaking at the opening of the Cisco TelePresence suite at Cisco's Irish HQ in Eastpoint Business Park, Dublin, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD said, "I am delighted that Cisco has brought this advanced and unique piece of technology to Ireland. Rising costs, limited time and the environmental impact of global travel means we are increasingly seek an alternative. Given Ireland's geographical location and significant position in the competitive global knowledge economy, it is vital that we embrace new technologies to assist Irish businesses in their international activities."

The Cisco TelePresence Meeting solution was developed by Cisco to revolutionise the way organisations communicate internally and externally with employees, customers and partners - combining the reach, intelligence and reliability of the network with the simplicity of a telephone interface.

Galvin concluded. "It is very different than being in a traditional video conferencing session. It is the first Unified Communications application that has the power to change the way people interact with each other; it is the only video system that makes you feel as if you are in the same room with others."

Notes to editors

The Cisco TelePresence Meeting solution combines the industry's first ultra-high definition 1080p video and high-quality, wideband spatial audio, imperceptible low latency, with comprehensive environmental design.

It is available in two models:

• The Cisco TelePresence 1000 is designed for small group meetings and one-on-one conversations, as well as emerging applications like the "virtual assistant." It is ideal for use in executive offices, hotel lobbies or bank branches.
• The Cisco TelePresence 3000 is designed for meetings of 12 people or more around a virtual table. The product is ideal for executive round-tables and staff meetings, as well as general employee, customer and partner collaborative meetings.

Key benefits and features include:

• Simplicity - Setting up meetings is as easy as creating a calendar invitation via integration with enterprise groupware like Microsoft Outlook and Cisco Unified CallManager 5.1. Users can then simply launch a Cisco TelePresence call with the touch of a button on a Cisco IP phone or dial any other Cisco TelePresence room directly, just like a regular phone call.
• Quality - Life-size, ultra high-definition 1080p video delivers a high quality resolution for a higher-quality image that is six times as clear as standard television images and more than twice as sharp as HD TV. Specially designed ultra high-definition cameras support the high-quality video and require no user operation. Wideband spatial audio and multi-channel, full-duplex sound provides excellent voice projection and helps enable multiple simultaneous conversations, just like what typically occurs during an in-person meeting. Specially designed microphones eliminate sound interference.
• Reliability - Integration with the existing enterprise IP network as a platform helps ensure a high quality, highly secure and available connection for an optimal experience with every call.

Delivering the Cisco TelePresence Experience

The Cisco TelePresence Advanced Technology Provider (ATP) Program currently includes 23 partners from around the globe. The program is focused on helping partners provide the expertise, intellectual property and lifecycle services capabilities necessary to deliver the Cisco TelePresence experience.

Cisco TelePresence Meeting solution is best delivered over a Cisco-certified TelePresence network connection. Cisco is developing a program through which service providers may attain TelePresence network certification. Cisco TelePresence certified service providers work to ensure that businesses get the life-like communications experience they demand.

List Pricing and Availability

The Cisco TelePresence 1000, $79,000 USD list; and the Cisco TelePresence 3000, $299,000 USD list, are currently available. No monthly operating fee is required. Cisco Systems Capital, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems Inc., is offering flexible financing terms for TelePresence Meeting solutions. Leases including consultation, equipment and installation, are available per room from 36 to 60 months.