SAN JOSE, Calif. -- March 3, 1998 -- MediaOne and Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced they have signed a contract to develop advanced end-to-end broadband infrastructures capable of delivering digital voice, data, and video.
Strategic goals outlined in the contract include defining architectural and service designs and network interface technology to connect consumer electronic devices, networked appliances and other video-capable computing devices to a common network environment. The proposed architecture and standards set are expected to form the foundation for a next-generation distributed platform that embeds new levels of intelligence within the network infrastructure.
The two companies intend to first focus on MediaOne's scalability, Multimedia Cable Network System (MCNS) transition challenges and the development of MCNS quality of service (QOS)-capable internetworking technologies. Key foundation elements in this phase will be the Cisco 12012 gigabit switch router (GSR) with Packet over SONET (POS) interfaces, the Cisco uBR 7246 universal broadband router with full MCNS-compliant network support, Cisco Directory Services (CDS), and critical middleware technologies for configuration, security/key and address management.
Achieving a rapid, yet graceful, migration to an MCNS-compliant, retail-ready infrastructure is a key goal of the effort. Medium-term objectives include joint standards, architecture and service development efforts.
Outside of the agreement, the two companies will collaborate with CableLabs to finalize and deploy QoS extensions to MCNS for voice-over-IP and streaming video services. Joint collaboration on MCNS-based Small Office/Home Office (SOHO), small business and telecommuting offerings is an additional goal during this phase.
"MediaOne is committed to bringing advanced broadband networking to our customers," said Doug Holmes, executive vice president of finance, business development and strategy at MediaOne. "MediaOne and Cisco have collaborated on other developments in the past, and we have a track record of success. We look forward to a deeper and highly synergistic relationship benefiting both companies as we work to meet our aggressive time-to-market and quality goals."
Cisco and MediaOne have created a dedicated program management and engineering team to execute the program's goals. MediaOne will designate engineers who will conduct research at Cisco's development facility during the joint development effort.
"This effort defines an entirely new level of cooperation for this industry, and we are excited to be part of the exceptional joint team created for this effort," said Kip Compton, Internet systems and services director at MediaOne.
"Next generation networks like the infrastructure being developed and deployed by MediaOne will bring the latest broadband capabilities to consumers and business customers," said Don Listwin, senior vice president and general manager of the Service Provider Line of Business at Cisco Systems. "Cisco is thrilled to have this opportunity to broaden our relationship with the exceptional team at MediaOne. Our mutual goal now is to defend, create and capture value by leveraging our complementary but aligned strengths to bring better packaged, better marketed and more targeted services to market sooner than the competition."
The current MediaOne infrastructure is designated a Cisco Powered Network because of the company's commitment to reliable, secure and high-performance Internet services. In the Cisco Powered Network program, MediaOne provides services based predominantly on Cisco equipment and software. MediaOne's participation in the program including use of the Cisco Powered Network logo to brand its services and marketing support materials demonstrates MediaOne's ability to provide innovative services and industry-leading technology solutions.
About MediaOne
MediaOne is the nation's leading Broadband services company, providing entertainment, information, and communications services to more than 5.1 million customers in 19 states. MediaOne Group (NYSE: UMG), formerly U S WEST Media Group, one of America's largest broadband communications companies, is involved in domestic and international cable and telephony, wireless communications, and directory and information services. For 1997, the group had proportionate revenue of $9.1 billion. MediaOne Group is one of two major groups owned by parent company U S WEST, Inc. The other major group is U S WEST Communications, which provides telecommunications services in 14 western and midwestern states. U S WEST has proposed splitting the two groups into separate public companies sometime after mid-1998, pending shareowner and other approvals.
Cisco Systems
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