Cisco acquired Pure Digital Technologies Inc for around $580 million. Its the creator of the Flip Video™, Pure Digital is a pioneer in developing consumer-friendly video solutions with mass-market appeal, and has revolutionized the way people capture and share video.
Its products and technologies include point-and-shoot video cameras, an array of accessories, and unique, user-friendly software application known as FlipShare. Together, these products create a unique yet easy to use combination for users to capture, edit and share high quality video. Pure Digital’s products are currently sold through retail and online, primarily in the US. The Flip Ultra is currently the No. 1-selling video capture product in the US, and the Flip MinoHD is the No. 1-selling high definition product.
Pure Digital’s CEO, Jonathan Kaplan, will become General Manager of Cisco’s Consumer Business Group, which includes Linksys® by Cisco® home networking, audio and media storage products.
The acquisition of Pure Digital is key to Cisco’s strategy of expanding its momentum in the media-enabled home and capturing the consumer market transition to visual networking. The $10B video capture device market is going through multiple transitions involving form factor, memory density, connectivity and new entrants. While the Pure Digital acquisition immediately targets this specific market, Pure Digital will help take Cisco’s consumer business to the next level, as the company develops new video capabilities and drives next generation entertainment and communication experiences. Flip Video’s well recognized brand will be a key asset to Cisco’s consumer market leadership.
With the addition of Pure Digital, Cisco now has several consumer products that target the living room: home networking systems it acquired from Linksys; cable boxes it got from Scientific-Atlanta; a wireless audio system that Cisco developed internally; and now Pure Digital’s Flip camcorder and related video software. Cisco has also said that it hopes to extend its high-end video conferencing technology into the home.
Apple has a similar device called Apple TV, which can direct music to a home audio system and videos to a television. It works with Apple’s iTunes store, naturally.
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Nice posting
This deals reminds me of Skype/Ebay deal. Chambers likely does not understand the thin margins and lack of loyalty in the consumer space. I cannot imagine that the software used by Pure is too complicated to be replicated by a 16 year old Bangalore resident is 3 days.
Does Chambers not anticipate that most phones will have this feature? Perhaps he is thinking of a Pure phone. But, he would be better off buying PALM.
http://www.beaconintegration.com/