Cisco, TANDBERG Provide Technology Roadmap Update

Cisco (CSCO) and TANDBERG have provided details about the integrated product portfolio that will be unveiled after the close of Cisco’s voluntary public cash offer to acquire all outstanding shares in TANDBERG. Cisco and TANDBERG remain competitors until close. The companies anticipate regulatory approval in the first half of 2010.

Cisco and TANDBERG believe that competition and industry expansion is best fostered through open standards and interoperability. Following the close, Cisco will create an open architecture that provides greater interoperability with TANDBERG and third-party systems. This integrated architecture will extend valuable features to customers such as One Button to Push and Continuous Presence, as well as integration with leading unified communications platforms. The companies reiterated previously announced plans to form a Cisco TelePresence Technology Group that will retain and build on product lines from both companies once the transaction closes. The TelePresence Technology Group’s integrated portfolio will consist of the following product groups:

• Immersive TelePresence: The flagship Cisco TelePresence System 3000 series, including the Cisco TelePresence System 3000/3010 and Cisco TelePresence System 3200/3210, will continue to serve as the optimized experience for scalable deployments. The TANDBERG Total Telepresence Solution, including the T3 and T1, will serve as the adaptive experience for a range of solutions including customized deployments. Shortly after completion of the acquisition, Cisco will deliver high-definition, immersive, multiscreen interoperability between these systems and other multiscreen systems.
• Multipurpose Room Systems: TANDBERG’s Profile Series will continue to deliver a range of options for customer choice in the meeting room, and the Cisco TelePresence System 1300 will complement the offering with a virtual in-person experience in a multipurpose conference room.
• Personal Systems: The portfolio of TANDBERG personal systems will remain, as will the Cisco TelePresence System 1100 and Cisco TelePresence System 500. The unified set of products will meet the needs of individuals in the office, at home, and on the go.
• Platform Portfolio: TANDBERG’s C-series, MXP codecs, set-top systems, and PC video and high-definition cameras will serve as the foundation for extensive integration options. These offerings will continue to be available to integrators and their customers who choose to purchase customized systems that interoperate with current and future Cisco, TANDBERG and third-party systems.
• Infrastructure: Both companies’ entire line of infrastructure products will continue to be available to integrators and customers. This includes, for example, the Codian Multipoint Control Units (MCUs). The joint infrastructure portfolio will form the basis of the Cisco TelePresence architecture, will provide improved interoperability with competitive solutions, and will enable intercompany services and integration with Cisco’s and other companies’ digital media and collaboration solutions.
• TelePresence as a Service: Cisco TelePresence Exchange and Cisco TelePresence Public Suites offerings will continue to provide the ability to securely and scalably connect across organizational boundaries. Today, many service providers work with Cisco to deliver intercompany services that connect Cisco and other companies’ endpoints.

In addition to product group announcements, it has also been determined that the TANDBERG sales and channels organization will become a specialist sales team within Cisco after close in order to assure customers they will continue to benefit from the same trusted relationships they currently enjoy with Cisco or TANDBERG representatives.