Cisco Systems, Inc. – Corporate Overview
Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in networking for
the Internet. Today, networks are an essential part of business, education,
government and home communications, and Cisco's Internet Protocol-based (IP)
networking solutions are the foundation of these networks.
Cisco was founded in 1984 by a small group of computer
scientists from Stanford University. Since the company's inception, Cisco
engineers have been leaders in the development of Internet Protocol (IP)-based
networking technologies. Today, with more than 47,000 employees worldwide, this
tradition of innovation continues with industry-leading products and solutions
in the company's core development areas of routing and switching, as well as in
advanced technologies such as:
- IP Communications
- Wireless LAN
- Home Networking
- Application Networking Services
- Network Security
- Storage Area Networking
- Video Systems
Cisco has been at the heart of many historic changes in
technology, and that continues to be true today. Now, at a time when the
technology industry is going through a period of dramatic change, Cisco is the
market leader in multiple areas, such as routing and switching, unified
communications, wireless and security. The company helped catalyze the
industry's move toward IP and, now that it is fully underway, the company is at
the center of fundamental changes in the way the world communicates.
The Network is the Platform
The emergence of the network as a platform is changing the
entire value chain of technology and placing the network squarely at the center
of innovation: as many as 14 billion devices will be connected to the Internet
by 2010. The explosion of devices will be fueled by more and more services and
tasks being handled online, from phone calls to personalized searches to
downloading videos, games and other forms of entertainment.
The role of the network is evolving beyond that of
infrastructure. It is emerging as a secure platform for delivering the
customized and personalized experience that 21st century users expect - whether
that means delivering new services as a carrier, boosting productivity for
businesses of any size or consumers looking for real-time, personalized
entertainment and services.
As an increasingly intelligent network evolves into a
platform, users will be able to communicate from any device and in whatever
mode they choose.
Cisco is leading the transition to a network-centric
technology environment. By combining its core strength (IP) with intelligence,
the company is creating a powerful communications platform that will serve as
the basis for the convergence of data, voice, video and mobile communications
in a secure, integrated architecture.
Below are three examples of how the transition to a
network-centric architecture is having profound and dramatic effect on entire
industries:
IP Communications and IP Video
Communications networks are going through a transformation
empowered by the Internet and networking technology. When the Internet was at
its earliest stages as a business and consumer tool, Cisco had a vision for how
IP technology would transform voice and video communications. In 1998, Cisco
acquired a small Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) company and began
developing this technology. Today Cisco is the global leader in IP
communications equipment, selling over 7.5 million IP phones worldwide, including
to more than 70 percent of Fortune 500 companies. Now Cisco is building on that
leadership to develop IP-based video technologies to transform the way video
content is delivered to the home and within companies. We are aggressively
moving into a new realm of IP, with the promise of IPTV on the horizon, and
pervasive video on the Internet.
Emergency Responder Communications
As 9-11, Hurricane Katrina and other national emergencies
have demonstrated, our federal, state and local emergency first responders need
the means to communicate effectively in times of crisis. Cisco has developed
IP-based technology that addresses today's voice communications
interoperability requirement, enabling communications across any type of
device, whether push-to-talk (radio) systems, cell phones or landline phones.
This technology, called IPICS (IP Interoperability and Collaboration System) is
now being field tested in several locations in the United States. This is one
of the industry's first systems designed to easily integrate disparate
push-to-talk radio systems together with widely deployed voice, video and data
networks. One of the most promising features of the IPICS technology is it can
enable preexisting communications systems to interoperate, eliminating the need
to completely replace deployed systems. Cisco IPICS delivers the "right
information to the right person in the right format at the right time."
Healthcare Information Technology
Quality health care is one our most vital national needs.
There is a growing consensus that our health-care system is outdated,
inefficient, and most worrisome, prone to errors. The Bush Administration has
worked to modernize the health care system through electronic health records
and information sharing that will improve the quality of health care and reduce
costs. Cisco has taken a leadership position in driving this change. First, it
has developed the technologies that enable the networking of health
information. Second, it is helping create regional and national health data
networks that will enable information sharing so that critical patient
information is available to health-care providers in a timely fashion. Finally,
Cisco is practicing what it preaches by adopting health-care IT within its own
health programs and creating incentives for employees' doctors to modernize
their systems.
Research and Development
Cisco innovates in many different ways: via technology
development and the expansion of technologies after their initial invention,
and through adjacent technology and market extension. We also innovate through
world-class integration and scaling of acquisitions, by starting new business
models, and in the way we partner with other companies.
Culture of Innovation
Organic development - $3.22 Billion + spent on R&D in
Fiscal Year 2005
Active acquirer of/investor in innovative start-ups - Cisco
has acquired 108 companies since 1993
US R&D facilities in San Jose, CA; Boxborough, MA;
Richardson, TX; Lawrenceville, GA; and Raleigh, NC
Other major R&D facilities in Bangalore, India; Shanghai,
China and Herzliya, Israel; Smaller facilities in North America, Europe and
Asia
Linksys Takes Cisco Into The Home
Cisco has extended its networking technology expertise in the
enterprise and service provider markets into the high-growth consumer
networking market with the addition of its Linksys Division in June 2003.
Linksys has the most extensive product line in home
networking, with more than 70 products including wireless routers and access
points for simultaneous sharing of broadband Internet connections, wireless
network adapters and wireless print servers as well as traditional wired
products such as Ethernet routers and cable modems, unmanaged switches and
hubs, print servers and network attached storage for easy sharing of digital
music, photo and video media files.
With Cisco's networking expertise and Linksys' user-friendly
features, consumer and small medium business (SMB) users will be able to build
high quality networks designed for the home or small office environment. A home
network enables families to better utilize their broadband Internet connections
by offering the ability to share Internet access using either wired or wireless
connections.
Scientific Atlanta Sets Stage for Multimedia Future
In February 2006, Cisco completed the acquisition of
Scientific Atlanta of Lawrenceville, Ga., a leading global provider of set-top
boxes, end-to-end video distribution networks and video systems integration.
The acquisition allows Cisco to offer a world class, end-to-end data, voice,
video, and mobility solution for carrier networks and the digital home.
With the addition of Scientific Atlanta technologies, Cisco's
IP Next Generation Network architecture offers providers an open platform for
service differentiation, allowing them to move beyond digital video/IPTV to
develop and deliver a variety of integrated media services in the connected
home.
Social and Philanthropic Initiatives Strengthen
Communities
Cisco's culture was founded on the principles of open
communication, empowerment, trust, integrity, and giving back to the community,
and these same values thrive at Cisco today. The company focuses on three areas
of corporate philanthropy: providing basic human needs, access to education,
and responsible citizenship.
Corporate Citizenship Report
In 2005, Cisco published its first Corporate Citizenship
Report. This report describes the company's citizenship programs, including the
history, benchmarks, successes, and future goals. Cisco organized contributions
made in grants and product donations to qualifying nonprofit organizations, in
education and economic development programs in underserved communities, and in
employee voluntarism. For its social responsibility efforts, Cisco received an
Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award from the Committee to Encourage
Corporate Philanthropy.
Support and Consulting Services Help Customers Succeed
In addition to hardware and software products, Cisco provides
a broad range of service offerings to its clients, including award-winning
technical support and advanced services. Cisco sells its products and
services—directly through its own sales force and indirectly through a
network of channel partners—to large enterprises, small and medium-sized
businesses, service providers, and consumers.
Cisco has long been recognized as a pioneer in using the
Internet and its own network to improve its business practices. The Cisco
Internet Business Solutions Group offers consulting services based on Cisco's
experience to help organizations worldwide use their own networks to achieve
business goals. In the fiscal year 2005, Cisco saved $2.4 billion by relying on
the Internet and network applications to provide customer support, offer
employee services, sell products, provide training, and manage finances and
manufacturing processes. Each year, Cisco introduces new applications, enhances
existing applications, and increases adoption of these applications across the
company, which results in an incremental return on investment year after year.
Channel Partners Address Network Evolution
Network technology is rapidly changing and creating new
demands by businesses and organizations of all types. In response, Cisco
Systems has developed its industry-leading channel partner program to help the
company's important sales force, its channel partners, develop the skills and
expertise they need to thrive.
Cisco's channel partners, a global force of over 200,000
people in 20,000 independent value-added resellers, systems integrators and
network consultancies, account for more than 90 percent of Cisco's commercial
and enterprise revenue worldwide.
For more information about Cisco' corporate history, click
here for the Cisco 2005 Corporate Timeline and 2006 Corporate Fact Sheet. For
more information on Cisco and its technology initiatives, go to www.Cisco.com.
Founded:
Cisco was founded in 1984 by a group of computer scientists
from Stanford University.
Incorporation:
Cisco was incorporated on December 10, 1984 in California.
Stock Symbol:
NASDAQ NM: CSCO (Common Stock)
IPO:
Cisco went public on February 16, 1990 at a split-adjusted
price of about 6 cents.
Employees:
As of the end of May 2006 Cisco has 48,000 employees
worldwide.
Corporate Headquarters:
San Jose, California, USA
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