Cisco to acquire ExtendMedia to ramp up IP video offerings

Cisco Inc, the $40 billion turnover networking giant, yesterday announced its intention to acquire privately-held ExtendMedia, a leading provider of video content-management systems to ramp up its IP video offerings.

Based in Newton, Massachusetts, with the majority of its employee based in Toronto, Canada, ExtendMedia provides software and media services that enable content providers and distributors to quickly and securely create, deliver, manage & monetize online content offerings over multiple devices including computers, mobile handsets and televisions.

ExtendMedia, which is backed by funding from venture capital firms, will strengthen Cisco's position in the delivery of IP video services by enabling service providers to provide a more interactive and personal experience and to optimize quality for consumer viewing devices.

"As the video market transitions and consumers expect multi-screen engagement, service providers are enhancing their infrastructure to manage and deliver video to any device while providing a rich user experience," said Enrique Rodriguez, senior vice president and general manager, Cisco's Service Provider Video Technology Group.

ExtendMedia's CMS software, which will integrate with Cisco's current IP video offerings, will become a core component of Cisco's next-generation video architecture, said the world's largest networking company in a statement.

Together, Cisco and ExtendMedia will enable service providers to deploy a next-generation, end-to-end video architecture that delivers the best consumer experience with access to any content, over any network, on any device.