Look and Listen: Cisco Telepresence

Cisco CEO John Chambers has spent several months hyping
telepresence, which is a combination of data, voice and video technology that makes videoconferencing incredibly lifelike. Now, The VAR Guy hears Cisco will unveil a big telepresence initiative within the next few weeks. If Cisco delivers on the promise of telepresence, partners could profit handsomely.

Telepresence isn’t about commodity headsets and pop-up video windows on PCs. Rather, it involves high-margin video equipment, custom-engineered rooms and other specialized equipment. Cisco hopes telepresence will find a home in boardrooms and executive suites. But as prices fall, The VAR Guy expects telepresence to find a home on college campuses.