SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Cisco says it’s going to sell a $599 box that turns living-room TV sets into big videophones.
It’s the first entry by the world’s largest maker of computer networking gear into home videoconferencing, a market that’s been dominated by free, PC-oriented services such as Skype SA.
Cisco Systems Inc. said Wednesday that the “umi” device will include a camera and will be controlled by a remote. The service will cost $30 per month in addition to the purchase price.
Cisco emphasizes that the system will produce high-definition, life-like video, but the quality will also depend on the speed of the home’s broadband connection.
