Cisco TelePresence

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.

Cisco CTS-3000

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 and 30 Rock 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.