Skip to main content

Implications of Cisco Home Media Strategy

Rutberg and Company offers analysis of Cisco's emerging strategy within the consumer electronics sector -- In the enterprise market, Cisco's entry into a product category typically presents formidable challenges to private companies in that category. However, we believe that Cisco's entry in the consumer electronic markets presents a relatively positive scenario for certain private companies, including even those with competing products and services.

In general, home media networking uncertainties include what the home media network architecture will look like and what roles will be performed by service providers, consumer electronics companies, and individual consumers. In a Cisco/Linksys-driven scenario, the consumer purchases and builds the network elements, and as such retains influence if not control over the network's content and service offerings.

Given Cisco's open-platform approach, private companies, such as those offering home networking products or over-the-top content services, will have an opportunity to participate in the home network, whereas they may not be able to in a service provider-driven scenario.

Popular posts from this blog

Bold Broadband Policy: Yes We Can, America

Try to imagine this scenario, that General Motors and Ford were given exclusive franchises to build America's interstate highway system, and also all the highways that connect local communities. Now imagine that, based upon a financial crisis, these troubled companies decided to convert all "their" local arteries into toll-roads -- they then use incremental toll fees to severely limit all travel to and from small businesses. Why? This handicapping process reduced the need to invest in building better new roads, or repairing the dilapidated ones. But, wouldn't that short-sighted decision have a detrimental impact on the overall national economy? It's a moot point -- pure fantasy -- you say. The U.S. political leadership would never knowingly risk the nation's social and economic future on the financial viability of a restrictive duopoly. Or, would they? The 21st century Global Networked Economy travels across essential broadband infrastructure. The forced intro...