The Latest in TelePresence

CCI Systems, a Cisco Gold Partner, is proud to announce that Cisco has recently revealed the latest of its human-network, consumer product: Umi. Called a webcam on steroids by Ad Age, Umi is a high-definition, high-bandwidth video-teleconferencing device. This set-top box connects to the TV’s cable receiver and the Internet via a broadband box. With the set-top box comes a camera that clamps to the top of an HD TV. It is 

currently compatible with Google video chat and possibly soon with Skype. The price retails at $599 with a $24.99 monthly service fee but requires a companion to get the full HD effect.

In an interview with Ad Age, Sue Bostrom, Cisco’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, talks about Cisco’s mission to expand into the consumer market with the human-networking campaign. She explains that the lines between the business world and the consumer world are blurring and the consumer drives today’s innovation. She goes on to say that video will become a pervasive part of people’s everyday lives and that Cisco’s TelePresence products will allow people to use video for real-life scenarios, such as doctor’s visits or insurance interviews. Click here to read the entire interview.

To find out more about this product, visit Cisco’s Web site.