Do you remember simcity, the city-building simulation game first released in 1989 and designed by Will Wright? myPlanNet is a Sim City type RTS (real-time strategy) simulation game that puts you into the shoes of a service provider CEO. You manage your business as it evolves from the stone age of dial-up, through the broadband and mobile connected eras, and into the dawning of the medianet age. Learn how to transform your community and explore the products and solutions that will help you provide a migration path from dial up, broadband and mobile services into the medianet age. MyPlanNet was released [...]

On 13 October 2009, Cisco and Starent Networks announced a definitive agreement for Cisco to acquire Starent Networks. Starent Networks is a leading supplier of IP-based mobile infrastructure solutions targeting mobile and converged carriers. The Mobile Internet is at an inflection point as IP-enabled Smartphones and other connected mobile devices gain rapid acceptance. Service Providers have been actively investing in this market as global mobile data traffic is expected to more than double every year through 2013, according to the Cisco Visual Networking Index. Under the terms of the agreement, Cisco will pay $35 per share in cash in exchange for each [...]

On 1st October 2009, Cisco announced a definitive agreement for Cisco to launch a recommended voluntary cash offer to acquire TANDBERG (OSLO: TAA.OL).  TANDBERG, based in Oslo, Norway, and New York, is a global leader in video communications, including a broad range of world-class video endpoint and network infrastructure solutions with intercompany and multi-vendor interoperability. With this proposed acquisition, Cisco will expand its collaboration portfolio to offer more solutions to a greater number of customers, further accelerating market adoption globally.

Yesterday, I have received the newsletter from learning@cisco that announce the release of four new certifications. “In response to the growing demand for IT professionals who can design, manage, and maintain converged technologies across global network infrastructures, Cisco announced the release of four new certifications at the Cisco Live! show, held this week in San Francisco, CA. Cisco Certified Architect, CCNP Wireless, and two new Cisco Datacenter Unified Computing Specialists reinforce Cisco’s commitment developing state of the art, technology driven, role based certifications that meet the demands of today’s network professional.”

Cisco announced its intent to acquire privately held Tidal Software, Inc.  Based in Palo Alto, Calif., and Houston, Tidal Software is the creator of intelligent application management and automation solutions that will advance Cisco’s data center strategy by enhancing product and service delivery offerings.  

Cisco Live is Cisco’s annual IT and communications conference and this year is the 20th Anniversary of the Cisco Networkers program. “This year marks the 20th anniversary of Networkers, which has grown into Cisco Live, our annual IT and communications conference. Much has changed since that first conference in 1989. But one thing remains as true today as it was then: knowledge is power. That simple phrase is the perfect theme for Cisco Live 2009. Innovative, creative, and knowledgeable people and businesses will always have a powerful competitive edge. In a challenging economy, it’s even more vital to hone the [...]

On 19 March 2009, Cisco announced its intent to acquire privately held Pure Digital Technologies Inc. San Francisco-based Pure Digital, creator of the best-selling Flip VideoTM brand, is a pioneer in developing consumer-friendly video solutions with mass-market appeal. “The acquisition of Pure Digital is key to Cisco’s strategy to expand our momentum in the media-enabled home and to capture the consumer market transition to visual networking,” said Ned Hooper, senior vice president of Cisco’s Corporate Development and Consumer Groups. “Pure Digital has revolutionized the way people capture and share video with Flip Video. This acquisition will take Cisco’s consumer business to [...]

One of the first topic presented in the “Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions (DESGN)” book is about the network design methodology. This methodology is composed by six phases closely related: prepare, plan, design, implement, operate, optimize. As show in this figure, the PPDIOO lifecycle phases are separate, yet closely related.  

Cisco has created its own channel on the green.tv platform. The channel launches with a series of films focused on Cisco’s Connected Urban Development initiative, which looks at how to reduce carbon emissions through improvements in the efficiency of the urban infrastructure made possible by information and communications technology (ICT) such as Cisco(R) TelePresence. Future programs will focus on creating sustainable cities, virtual collaboration, mobility solutions and smart energy solutions. green.tv has partnerships with some of the world’s leading environmental organisations, including the United Nations Environment Programme and Greenpeace.

John Chambers, Chairman and CEO, and Frank Calderoni, CFO, speak with CNBC and Bloomberg News about Cisco’s Q1 FY 09 financial results. How would you characterize the strength of the quarter, and the strength of the company as a whole? John Chambers says: “We exit the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 with an extremely strong position in the marketplace. We have approximately $27 billion in cash and investments. We also have solid balance from a product, geographic and customer segment perspective, which we consider perhaps one of the broadest balances across the IT industry. We have achieved continued success [...]