Cisco to acquire design consulting firm Motto Development

The world's largest networking equipment maker Cisco Systems said yesterday that it is acquiring privately held design consulting firm  Moto Development Group, in order to enhance its consumer product development capabilities, for an undisclosed sum.

San Francisco, California-based Moto Development is a design consulting firm that develops consumer products and strategies. It has around 35 consultants, some of whom were involved in the creation of Cisco's Flip video camera.

"Consumers have embraced our Flip Video, Valet  and Linksys product lines because they deliver on the promise of making video and home networking simple, affordable and fun," said Jonathan Kaplan, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco Consumer Products.

"Moto's design and engineering teams have deep consumer expertise that will accelerate our ability to continue to deliver great products and expand Cisco's consumer business," he added.

Moto will bring to Cisco an accomplished team of more than 35 consultants, a team that has been instrumental in the development of innovative products from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

Moto's's philosophy directly aligns with Cisco's consumer strategy to use devices, software and the network to deliver transformational product experiences that delight consumers.

San Franciso-based Cisco expects the acquisition to be completed in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year 2010. Upon the closing of the acquisition, Moto employees will become part of the Cisco consumer products team led by Kaplan.