Nemertes Impact Analysis

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Nemertes Impact Analysis: Move Over Microsoft, IBM; Cisco's in Town

Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) solidified its unified-communications portfolio with
Software-as-a-Service-based Web-conferencing, enabling mashups that integrate
presence, instant messaging, and conferencing with enterprise and Web 2.0
applications. Cisco also bolstered video/telepresence and released Unified
Communications Manager 7.0.

The move pits Cisco even more directly against Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and
IBM (NYSE:IBM) for UC and collaboration. In the Nemertes' PilotHouse
Awards, customers gave Microsoft higher ratings than Cisco, but Cisco's new
products-and credibility behind UCM and telepresence-may change that in 2009.

Impacts:

Vendors: Cisco is redefining itself as the collaborative networking vendor.
Microsoft and Nortel (NYSE:NT) must convince buyers their partnership is better
than a single-vendor solution. Avaya, IBM, and Siemens (NYSE:SI) also must
convey their compelling strategies.

Enterprises: Cisco is no longer supporting its CM 4.x Windows products;
figure out a migration strategy that encompasses a broader UC strategy-with
Cisco or another vendor.

Investors: Cisco wants to build an eco-system with partners developing
services based on its platform. Watch this market start to develop by mid 2009.

Robin Gareiss, Executive Vice President

http://www.nemertes.com/studies/nemertes_research_pilothouse_awards_2008_unified_communications_and_collaboration_top_uc_providers_0
http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2008/prod_092408.html?POSITION=LINK&COUNTRY_SITE=us&CAMPAIGN=NewsAtCiscoLatestNewsfromCDCHP&CREATIVE=LINK1&REFERRING_SITE=CISCO.COMHOMEPAGE