Cisco TelePresence, first introduced in October 2006, is a range of products developed by Cisco Systems designed to link two physically separated rooms so they resemble a single conference room, regardless of location.
Cisco documented the Telepresence concept and implementation details in the book Cisco TelePresence Fundamentals,Szigeti, McMenamy, Saville, Glowacki, Cisco TelePresence Fundamentals, Cisco Press, 2009, where the difference between Telepresence and Videoconferencing, prevalent at that point in time, is defined as quality, simplicity, and reliability.
Products These were the initial products:
CTS-3000 - Room system for 6 persons CTS-1000 - Room system for 2 persons CTMS - Multipoint collaboration network appliance that connected multiple room systems into a single conference CTS-Man - Management application for integration with groupware, such as Microsoft Exchange which gives the system the ability to schedule meetingsTelePresence Manager Information – Cisco Systems
They were designed so that the experience was as if local and remote participants were in the same room.Cisco TelePresence System 3000 Series These products offer features including up to three 1080p flat panel displays, special tables, microphones, speakers, cameras, collaboration interfaces and lighting.Cisco's TelePresence Meeting does video meetings in ultra-HD – Engadget
In 2008 Cisco reported to have sold about 2,000 rooms, with about another 250 non-revenue (internal and philanthropic) units installed.
Later, other products were developed that expanded the use-cases for smaller offices and Webex connectivity.
In 2010 Cisco acquired the Norwegian company Tandberg and integrated their products into the Cisco portfolio.
Currently, a wide range of collaboration endpoints Cisco Collaboration Endpoint Overview and conferencing infrastructure products Cisco Conferencing Overview is offered.
Marketing The television series 24 and 30 Rock featured Cisco Telepresence product placements. Season 8. Episode 8 of NCIS also featured Cisco Telepresence product placements. The Video Game Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction (2010) featured Cisco Telepresence product placements.
References
External links
Early video describing Cisco Telepresence Philip Graham presents - Cisco Telepresence Keynote - Part A Philip Graham presents - Cisco Telepresence Keynote - Part B