Cisco Systems looks to expand into consumer electronics with items from phones, radios to home theater equipment.  Cisco made its mark with routers aimed at enterprise traffic volumes and have been a mainstay of the new internet economy.  The router company expanded into consumer markets with smaller routers for the home and other communications devices.

In an interview this week Charles Giancarlo of Cisco's Chief Development Office told Financial Times : 

“Consumer electronics companies have been able to compete on a standalone device, but the dynamics of the market are changing…The Internet and new networking requirements are enough of a disruptor for us to enter a new market.” 

I’m curious to see what they make for the HT market.  More wi-fi aware internet connected set top boxes are always welcome.  I just wonder what kind of sound quality they’ll put behind a DVD/CD ripping digital playback device.  Maybe it’s my own foolish prejudice but I’d trust the likes of Cambridge Audio or NAD with such a device before Cisco.  But who knows, maybe they’ll rock the house.  No word so far on any specific devices.