| Cisco’s take on the connected home Johannesburg, 05 February 2007 - The adoption of broadband Internet connections and the proliferation of digital multimedia content are creating a major shift in how people communicate and enjoy their entertainment. That’s the word from Raymond Janse van Rensburg, systems engineer at Cisco, who adds that over 14 billion devices will be connected to the Internet by 2010 worldwide. “It’s clear that the network is changing how we communicate, collaborate, entertain and do business. For resellers, the opportunity now exists to invest in the right skills and infrastructure so that they can cater for this growing market,” he says. Janse van Rensburg adds that people now have an increasing number of digital communications and entertainment options, but few of these work well together. “This is typical of ‘first wave’ innovations, where capabilities such as open interfaces and interoperability are traded off, creating islands of content on proprietary devices and forcing undesirable compromises,” he says. The classic example is the lack of integration between TVs and PCs. “Right now, content from a PC cannot easily be viewed on a TV, and people who want to watch streaming video are fettered to their computers,” Janse Van Rensburg says. By creating a set of common services using intelligent networking technologies, Cisco seeks to help digital devices more easily and effectively interact with one another, while also helping these devices integrate more closely with various content services from telecommunications providers (High-definition IPTV, for example). Consumers increasingly want more freedom and ease in how, when and where they use these new communications and entertainment options. “By harnessing our experience in creating the world's most advanced intelligent networks for service providers, global enterprises and SMBs, we can extend the power of the network into the home,” Janse Van Rensburg says. Simply put, Janse van Rensburg states that the connected home organises, simplifies and unites a consumer’s content, entertainment and communications into an easy to use and elegant solution. “Within the connected home, all electronic devices work together to enable users to access and control their content, along with everything the outside world has to offer, through one simple, intuitive and consistent interface. “Not only can you find what you want, you can also move it effortlessly from device to device both at home and on the go,” he says. However, the case for home networking is not solely based on entertainment. South African corporates are extending network access and allowing employees to securely access email and applications from home. “The advent of VPN (Virtual Private Network) connections and affordable broadband connectivity will fast track adoption. We are already seeing that executives are changing their work patterns: logging on and responding to the bulk of their email, all before braving the traffic and coming into work,” Janse van Rensburg says. Advising resellers on which devices and features will appeal to consumers, Janse van Rensburg says that adding media streaming capabilities to enable web surfing, video and music to be shared across any connected device in the home is just the base. “With a wireless IP camera, office-based working moms can now have peace of mind that all is well with the children at home, as their desktop PC serves as a live window into the home,” he adds. Moving beyond Cisco’s historic strength in IP-based networks, the acquisitions of Linksys and Scientific Atlanta – the leading makers of residential networking equipment, video networking equipment and set-top boxes – have very consciously put the pieces in place to address the key aspects of the connected home. Janse van Rensburg adds, “There's no doubt that the consumer marketplace holds much promise for integrators, and with the combination of Cisco's IP expertise in telecommunications networks, coupled with Linksys' home networking acumen and Scientific Atlanta's video leadership, we have the resources necessary to deliver on the connected home.” “Resellers who are able to bundle solutions and effectively consult and install these systems for the consumer market will be the ones who capitalise on the connected home as it becomes a reality in South Africa,” he concludes. About Cisco Systems |
Guest