By Simon Quicke
30 July 2008
The decision by Cisco to acquire Pure Networks last week in a move designed to bolster its position in the expanding home networking market has raised the question of what those users will need from vendors.
Clearly Cisco has understood the need to acquire a home network management specialist that can handle the increasing demands that customers are placing on systems that are not just being used for work but also for multimedia.
At the time of the announcement of the $120m acquisition, Ned Hopper, senior vice president for Cisco’s Corporate Development and Consumer Group, said that home networking was evolving to become something much more substantial and significant.
“With the rapid proliferation of networking technology and new consumer electronics devices the ability to quickly and easily connect to a range of devices, content and services throughout the home is becoming paramount to achieving a satisfying consumer experience,” he said.
One rival networking vendor aimed largely at the consumer end of the market said Cisco was in catch up mode and was “only doing things some of us have been doing for years”, but other sources in the industry said there were still questions left to ponder for resellers.
Andrew Davison, sales and marketing director at Griffin Internet, said that most home workers were not using features like VoIP and when they started to expand their ambitions some of the current systems and ISPs would struggle to meet those needs.
“You need a server throughput guarantee to make people understand that because they are home because they are at home and don’t get any with a residential broadband product,” he said.
He added that resellers were going to be crucial in getting that message out to customers.
See also:
Cisco wants Pure Networks for home play
