Cisco TelePresence explained

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,^[1] 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 meetings^[2]

They were designed so that the experience was as if local and remote participants were in the same room.^[3] These products offer features including up to three 1080p flat panel displays, special tables, microphones, speakers, cameras, collaboration interfaces and lighting.^[4]

In 2008 Cisco reported to have sold about 2,000 rooms, with about another 250 non-revenue (internal and philanthropic) units installed.^[5]

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.^[6]

Currently, a wide range of collaboration endpoints ^[7] and conferencing infrastructure products ^[8] is offered.

Marketing

• The television series 24 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.

External links

• • Early video describing Cisco Telepresence
• Philip Graham presents - Cisco Telepresence Keynote - Part A
• Philip Graham presents - Cisco Telepresence Keynote - Part B

Notes and References

1. Szigeti, McMenamy, Saville, Glowacki, Cisco TelePresence Fundamentals, Cisco Press, 2009,
2. http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7074/index.html TelePresence Manager Information – Cisco Systems
3. http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/collaboration-endpoints/telepresence-system-3000/product_data_sheet0900aecd80543f46.html Cisco TelePresence System 3000 Series
4. https://www.engadget.com/2006/10/23/ciscos-telepresence-meeting-does-video-meetings-in-ultra-hd/ Cisco's TelePresence Meeting does video meetings in ultra-HD – Engadget
5. Customer Adoption Drives Cisco TelePresence to 500-Unit Milestone. 2008-04-20. Cisco Systems.
6. News: Cisco Buys Tandberg, a Video Conference Company. Vance. Ashlee. Ashlee Vance. 2009-10-01. The New York Times. 2017-08-09. en-US. 0362-4331.
7. http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collaboration-endpoints/index.html Cisco Collaboration Endpoint Overview
8. http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/conferencing/index.html Cisco Conferencing Overview