Cisco buys into switching

Cisco Systems is expanding the possibilities for its Internet protocol-based products by acquiring programmable switch vendor Summa Four Inc.

As the dominant router vendor, Cisco is poised to benefit from the increasing popularity of IP-based infrastructure. But that technology will not reach its full potential until IP equipment can provide the same enhanced services available on circuit-switched voice networks.

The Summa Four purchase could bring Cisco closer to that goal. Cisco plans to support enhanced services by interfacing its IP products with Summa Four's switches, which have long been used as ancillaries to large-scale circuit switches. Cisco also will use Summa Four's open programmable software across its product line.

Customers' growing interest in voice over IP mandated a move in this direction, said Junaid Islam, architecture marketing group manager for Cisco's network to user business unit.

"We considered developing [IP enhanced services] ourselves, then we came across the fact that programmable switches are being used to deliver [those] services in voice," Islam said. "If we can leverage that in the IP world, it's a big win."

Summa Four realized that connecting with a data networking vendor would be beneficial.

"We felt a strong position in packet and cell technology would allow us to strongly compete," said John Shaw, Summa Four's business development vice president.

"Cisco got a great deal," said Dan Taylor, managing director of networking and telecommunications for The Aberdeen Group. "Now they can provide dial tone, and Summa Four's switch is a great voice-over-IP platform for carriers."

Customers wanted a simple design, said Pao, adding that application developers will expand the product's capabilities with tools scheduled for release later this year.

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