OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering

X

A multi million investment by Cisco in an Australian wireless audio Company 18 months ago is set to be tested with the Networking Company set to announce a new wireless audio system for the home at this year’s CES Expo in Las Vegas. It is also believed that Australian Companies are set to play a key part in the new consumer technology.

An investment of over $7M by Cisco in an Australian wireless audio Company 18 months ago is set to be tested with the Networking Company set to announce a new wireless audio system for the home at this year’s CES Expo in Las Vegas.

The device which will take on Sonos and Sony is believed to incorporate new wireless audio technology developed by Avega, an Australian start up Company who last year moved their sales and marketing operations to the USA.

Also playing a role in the new Cisco offering is Australian wireless technology Group Radiata, which was sold to Cisco for $500 million. Radiata is a key supplier of chipsets for high-speed wireless networks.  It was founded in 1997 in Sydney and developed its technology on the basis of research conducted by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization).

What is not known is whether Cisco will also launch under the Linksys brand new wireless speakers that incorporate Avega developed wireless processors.

SmartHouse and ChannelNews have seen and heard the Avega developed wireless audio system working in both small bookshelf speakers and large stand alone speakers and it is impressive.

 


SmartHouse has also been told that Cisco has worked with Apple to develop an interface that will allow the new wireless audio system to be managed from an iPhone. The announcement comes two years after Cisco said at CES 2007 that they would sue Apple for using the name iPhone, a brand name which at the time was owned by Cisco. The dispute was settled amicable between both parties with the two organisations now working together on new product development.  

Part of the deal with Apple may centre on Cisco being given access to the Apple iTunes ecosystem which will allow the new Cisco Wireless device to play iTunes DRM content.

Analysts according to the New York Times say there are hurdles that Cisco must overcome in the consumer market where Cisco is an unknown brand. There is also speculation that Cisco will use the CES 2009 show which kicks off this week in Las Vegas to announce the rebranding of Linksys as Cisco 

Jonathan Greene writing in eHomeUpgrade says he’s puzzled as to “why Cisco is not simply focusing on enabling the connectivity and distribution piece on the network rather than going for the end-point.” He adds that he’d rather see “something neutral that provides access to content and not just music.

According to PC World Directions on Microsoft Analyst Matt Rosoff points out that enabling multi room audio is more complex than “just a few simple tweaks to [Cisco’s] existing home networking products,” and that Cisco must successfully hide that complexity from users.

728x90 Iconic OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering
EFTM Award Channel News 970x90 OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering
Leaderboard 728x90 OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering
Martin Logan 728 x 90 OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering
Leaderboard Done 728X90 OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering
Aspire Vero Banner Intel CCF 728x90 OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering
4SQM True X Banner 4 OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering
hitachi banner 728x90 OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering
Olimpia Splendid Unico Cooling 728x90 1 scaled OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering
PN64 4Square Media 728x90 1 OZ Plays Key Role In New Cisco Wireless Audio Offering


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE