There’s a lot of speculation across the web about Cisco System's next move.  Since announcing their intention to enter the home theater market Cisco Systems looks to secure a deal to purchase Scientific Atlanta (SA).  The deal is said to be done and will with Cisco purchasing SA for $6.9 Billion.  The deal promises to bring video technology to Cisco’s home entertainment endeavors.  Having acquired Linksys back in ’03 to gain a foothold in the household wireless network market, you can bet there will be some interesting hybrid SA/Linksys products.

The kinds of technologies Cisco will leverage into include emerging technology for which there will be a big market in coming years.  Consider the plan dubbed Quadruple Play.

It’s a plan to provide one service to rule all wireless TV/telephony to subscribers.  The venture involves communications big wheels Time Warner, Comcast, Cox Communications, Advance/Newhouse Communications and Sprint Nextel.  They’ll need the kind of wireless video communications hardware that Cisco will start to develop. 

That is just the kind of “end-to-end solution” VP Chris Stevens means when he says:

"If you want to figure out where we are going, just look at the building blocks we are already assembling. The elements we already have in the portfolio provide us key capabilities that fit into an end-to-end solution."

Cnet says Cisco might even be planning a deal with TiVo and could involve another acquisition for Cisco.  Nobody really knows.

What other deals could be on the horizon for Cisco Systems? 

Names being bandied about in rumors include Nintendo, Sling Media and a Russian company called Ruckus who created some unique wireless software. 

Nobody really knows what’s next for Cisco, all we have now is speculation.  But Cisco is definitely gearing up to gain a foothold into your household and some unique home equipment is definitely in the mail.