Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ:IRBT), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ:TIVO)
Cisco Shifts from Supply to Demand in Cloud (ChannelBuzz)
In the two years since Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) introduced a three-pronged, cloud-centric partners program at Partner Summit 2011, it focused heavily on programs for those that build private clouds for their customers, and for those that want to create and market cloud services powered by Cisco gear and technology. Those two programs represent the supply side of the cloud equation in the Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) partner community. But with changes to its programs and incentives announced at Partner Summit 2013 in Boston this week, the company declared its intention to start building the demand side of the equation.
Cisco and iRobot Partner On Ava 500 Project (Pulse2)
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) and iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ:IRBT) have partnered to market the Ava 500 video collaboration robot. The Ava 500 robot uses iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ:IRBT)’s autonomous navigation and Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)’s telepresence software. The Ava 500 will likely become popular within enterprises. The goal of the Ava 500 is to “enable people working off-site to participate in meetings and presentations where movement and location spontaneity are important.” The Ava 500 was designed for collaboration, mobility, and telepresence. It will be especially useful in manufacturing facilities, supply chain outputs, and labs.
Cisco Kicks Off Midmarket-Centric Site for Customers, Partners (TheVarGuy)
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) has opened a new information-focused website dedicated to the midmarket, as part of a $150 million channel marketing enablement initiative aimed at a segment it estimates will support some $50 billion in product and services sales by 2016. Marie Hattar, Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) enterprise segment marketing vice president, writing in a blog post, described the site, called Cisco Midsize Business Solutions, as “built for midsize IT and business leaders.” “It discusses current market influences and top challenges with insights on how to address them. With solutions, case studies, videos, and tools, it provides these leaders with the information they need to grow their business,” she wrote.
Cisco Backing $150M Midmarket Push with $1B in Qualified Sales Leads (TheVarGuy)
Last year, Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) pledged some $75 million to help channel partners pursue small-and-midsize-business customers through targeted market development funds and related sales programs. One measure of how well the networking giant believes the partners-as-midmarket-first-responders initiative has worked is by upping the ante, which Cisco just did by doubling the pot to $150 million. That Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) figures the midmarket as a fertile selling ground for partners isn’t new, but the estimates for its potential sales value keep rising. The vendor now pegs the segment—the 1.4 million companies with 100-1,000 employees—at some $50 billion in products and services by 2016.
Google, Cisco to pay TiVo in patent settlement (Reseller)
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) will give digital-video-recorder pioneer TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ:TIVO) lump-sum payments totaling US$490 million as part of a deal that will end the companies’ litigation over patents for set-top technology. TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ:TIVO) had been at odds with the two companies, as well as with Time Warner Cable and broadband device maker Arris Group, over the licensing of TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ:TIVO)’s patents, including patents on its DVR technology. Under the settlement, which the companies agreed to on Thursday, all patent infringement claims will be dismissed.
