SAN JOSE, Calif. (Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc., the biggest maker of computer-networking equipment, on Monday announced 12 telephone products based on Internet Protocol, the lingua franca of the Internet, that run on a network carrying voice, video and data.
The announcements by Cisco CSCO.O, their largest in recent memory, come as the company and other data-networking and telecommunications equipment vendors suffer from declining sales and large losses. The decline in capital spending on telecommunications equipment is forecast to accelerate next year, according to Merrill Lynch, which expects sales to fall 17 percent in 2002 to $87 billion, following an 11 percent contraction in 2001 to $104 billion.
But Cisco, along with other high-tech titans with billions in cash on its balance sheet, such as Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp., are continuing to invest in new technologies and research and development to gain market share now and to be positioned well when demand returns. The products are a combination of both hardware and software, Cisco said.
On the software side, San Jose, California-based Cisco's new products include Cisco CallManager 3.2, Cisco Emergency Responder, Media Gateway Control Protocol and the Cisco IP Contact Center bundle.
New hardware products include the Cisco VG 248 voice analog gateway, which lets customers still use their traditional analog phones, faxes and other public branch exchange, or PBX, equipment until they install all digital, all Internet Protocol equipment.
Cisco also announced the Catalyst 4200 switch. The Catalyst 4200 switch helps lower costs for branch offices by using converged IP voice, video and data routing and switching functions through a single two-rack unit box.
Many of the products are available now, while all of then will be available by Dec. 31, Cisco said.
News source: reuters.com ( Ed - So wheres my internet talking toaster ??? )
