Cisco's fiscal year 2008 third quarter was characterized by strong business and technology announcements and significant customer wins around the world in each market segment.

Cisco announced the next phase of its corporate strategy for China, marked by new public-private collaborative programs within the country that deliver upon its USD $16 billion multi-year innovation and sustainability initiative. Cisco also announced its Collaboration with Peking University to establish the Guanghua Cisco Leadership Institute in China.

Cisco announced intent to acquire remaining interest in Nuova Systems, a start-up focused on the development of next-generation products for the data center market.

Cisco has announced the launch of its Global Talent Acceleration Program (GTAP) facility in Johannesburg, South Africa. GTAP is a long-term Cisco initiative aimed at developing local next-generation local network consulting engineers (NCEs) for the company.

Chambers addressed Connected Urban Development (CUD) , a public-private partnership aimed at addressing the unique environmental problems confronted by urban areas. It also develops replicable information and communications technology (ICT) solutions for cities around the world.

Following are select product announcements from Q3 FY08:

Cisco reached the milestone of TelePresence with more than 500 units ordered since the solution's introduction 18 months ago. Cisco TelePresence can help companies shorten sales and product-development cycles, while improving operational efficiencies and supporting environmentally responsible business practices.

Cisco 'Empowered Branch' Delivered More Applications and New Business Models. By opening its Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR) and Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) platforms to customers and third-party application developers, Cisco enables its customers to optimize the branch infrastructure while extending its accessibility to business resources.

Cisco introduced the Nexus 5000 Series of data center-class switches, and also announced interoperability via an ecosystem of application and systems partners and accelerated adoption with a data center channel partner enablement strategy.

Cisco Expanded its Self-Defending Network, strengthening its role in IT risk management for security and compliance. The expansion included enhancements to endpoint defense, firewalls, intrusion prevention, router security, and security management.

Cisco announced a milestone of shipping more than 1,800 industry-leading Carrier Routing System (CRS-1), the core platform for the Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture. Increased network, service and application convergence, facilitate delivery of video services, with total worldwide cumulative shipments of this platform doubling in less than nine months.

Cisco Aggregation Services Routers are transforming the network edge for service providers and enterprises. The most powerful compact router in the market offers industry-leading performance, service capabilities and reliability with a reduced carbon footprint.

Cisco introduced the Cisco QuantumFlow Processor, the most advanced piece of networking silicon in the world and the industry's first fully-integrated and programmable networking chipset. This innovation is uniquely geared for today's network environments and is several generations beyond what is currently available in network processors.

The new switching foundation for data center 3.0 transformation was delivered with Cisco's data centre 10 Gigabit Ethernet portfolio of Nexus switches, and expansion of Catalyst 6500 modular, fixed and blade platforms.

Following are select customer announcements from Q3 FY08:

United States and Canada:

AT&T is the first service provider to announce global plans to deliver the industry's first, fully managed Cisco TelePresence solution that allows companies to connect to their customers, suppliers and partners worldwide.

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), the world's largest marketer, producer and distributor of Coca-Cola products, deployed Cisco ISRs as part of an ongoing global executive communications process to enhance its communication and collaboration routines to more than 30,000 employees in more than 440 facilities across most of North America and Western Europe.

Videotron became the first cable operator in North America to roll out services based on Cisco Wideband, which uses channel bonding as defined by the CableLabs® DOCSIS® 3.0 specification, allowing it to launch North America's fastest Internet access service over cable for residential and business customers.

Bell Canada and Cisco announced strategic initiatives designed to develop and deliver a range of IP-based Managed Services to Canadian businesses, including unified communications, voice, wireless, IP contact centre and security.

TELUS enhanced its Short Messaging Service (SMS) in its Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) with Cisco's carrier-class Signaling Transfer Point (STP) technology, providing increased scalability and reliability.

Asia Pacific:

The Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, a 550-room luxury hotel in Singapore, is redefining the guest experience through a unique technology deployment that is built on a unified communications platform from Cisco.

Malaysian Resources Corp. Berhad (MRCB), a leading urban property and infrastructure developer in Malaysia, is collaborating with Cisco to develop first-of-its-kind intelligent real estate centres in Malaysia based on the Cisco Connected Real Estate Solution (CCRE).

SWIPE (Hong Kong) Ltd, the exclusive local agent for the SWIPE brand of home-cleaning products, deployed a Cisco Unified Communications system to replace its traditional private branch exchange (PBX) systems.

Tata Communications in India became first Asian service provider to launch Cisco Certified TelePresence Connection services for unique life-like virtual meeting solutions.

European Markets:

Portuguese service provider, Sonaecom is delivering broadband innovation over a Cisco IP Next- Generation Network based on Cisco Carrier Ethernet Technology.

A leading UK NHS Trust has been able to offer faster treatment, reduced waiting times and better use of resources to patients in parts of Liverpool and Merseyside after the deployment of a Community of Interest Network (COIN).

Balfour Beatty Rail GmbH Germany is using 3G wireless technology incorporated into Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISRs) to help improve the productivity and efficiency of its engineers at remote construction sites.

The University of CumbpM/&$@8VQA

Emerging Markets:

Petrobel (The Belayim Petroleum Company) in Cairo, Egypt, has implemented a Cisco Unified Communications solution to link its headquarters and oil rigs to improve safety while reducing cost, increasing productivity, decreasing travel and improving teamwork.

The United Development Co. (UDC) of Qatar selected Cisco technology and service solutions to provide the expected 41,000 residents of The Pearl-Qatar island with differentiated services such as high-speed wired and wireless connectivity and IPTV services.

The Russian Automotive Association (RAA) has deployed a new network to connect 15 RAA branch offices across several Russian regions, resulting in significant productivity and efficiency gains, and reduced operational expenditure (OPEX).

Max Telecom completed the first phase of its rollout in Bulgaria, using the Cisco Mobile WiMAX technology, representing the country's first personal broadband mobile communications service with coverage in ten cities.

HSBC Mexico deployed Cisco Unified Communications to lower costs by converging voice, data and video onto one network and provide enhanced services to customers and employees.

Japan:

Cisco Unified Workspace Licensing provides flexibility in how Nissan Motor Company deploys Unified Communications, changing the way it make cars and increasing employee productivity.

Following are significant partner announcements from Q3 FY08:

Partner Exchange was created to meet growing demand for partner-to-partner collaboration, as Cisco study reveals collaboration among channel partners generates 31 percent of revenue.

Cisco Partner Talent Network was launched to help address global IT skills gap as the company transforms how channel partners attract, develop and retain talent.

Cisco unveiled its Partner Summit global and top theater award winners, recognizing top global and theater channel partners in 2007. The 17 global honorees were selected from more than 3,000 Cisco channel partners worldwide for their outstanding performance in 2007.

Cisco announced the availability of a suite of new solution bundles for the Cisco Smart Business Communications System specifically designed for the Asia Pacific market. Cisco also announced the addition of two partner profitability incentives: Opportunity Incentive Program (OIP) and Partner Development Fund (PDF).

Also announced was the opening of Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR) and Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) platforms to customers and third-party application developers, helping enable customers to optimize the branch infrastructure while extending their accessibility to business resources.