The networking company recently announced a platform that simplifies live and on-demand video sharing across digital signage networks, PCs and mobile phones, by automatically formatting video and rich media for viewing on any device.
Driving the new platform is the Cisco Media Experience Engine (MXE) 3000, which delivers the ability to transcode a single source of content so that it is playable on those devices. It also delivers real-time post production and processing capabilities such as watermarking, voice and video editing, text and image overlays and noise reduction to create broadcast quality video experiences.
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"Many employees have access to PCs to receive video messages, but there may be a high percentage that don't," said Thomas Wyatt, general manager, DMSBU. "They can get access to that very same content through digital signage or enterprise TV. Playing video back on multiple devices is something we're seeing customers wanting to invest in, especially in a challenged economic environment."
Janice Litvinoff, director of product management, DMSBU, says that the first applications of the new media platform are likely to come in the education and corporate communications sectors.
"The use of video to communicate change is becoming more critical," she said. "In tough times you don't want to use email to communicate important news. Say a company needs to get a CEO's message out to all employees. Now it can come from one source and reach everyone."
Grounded, but connected
Litvinoff also said that Cisco is positioning is DMS suite as a way to cut back on operating expenditures in tough economic times.
"The new media processing platform will reduce the time it takes to communicate critical messages," she said. "The hours it takes to produce video will be reduced, saving time and operating expenditures."
Litvinoff also said that Cisco predicts some of its more than 800 DMS customers can use the communications suite and its TelePresence capabilities as a way to communicate without having to travel, saving time and money for those companies.
"Hardly anyone here at Cisco is traveling right now unless absolutely necessary," she said. "We're all grounded and communicating through DMS."
Entering the LCD screen market
Cisco's Digital Media System consists of Digital Media Manager software, Digital Media Players and now the MXE 3000. The system is commonly used for corporate communications, desktop video and telepresence.
Also joining the DMS family are two Professional Series LCD displays designed for use with the system. Available in 40- and 52-inch models, the screens feature full 1080p resolutions and are controlled remotely from the Cisco Digital Media Manager, which allows users to change the volume, contrast, brightness and turn the screen on and off.
The Cisco Media Experience Engine and Cisco LCD 100 PRO 40N and LCD 110 PRO 52S are available immediately.
