Video Roundup: Cisco, Citrix, Level 3, Blue Coat

Here’s our review of noteworthy news in the video sector:

Cisco and Citrix Form Alliance for Rich-Media Virtual Desktops.  Cisco (CSCO) and Citrix Systems (CTXS) have entered into a strategic alliance to develop and deliver solutions that help customers simplify and accelerate large-scale desktop virtualization deployments. Collaboration between the two companies will include integrations in areas such as enhancing Cisco products with full support for Citrix HDX technology, delivering an optimized user experience for virtual desktops, and accelerate innovation with Cisco UCS, Citrix XenDesktop and XenServer. In addition, the two companies will work together on product development in such areas as desktop virtualization and cloud. "Cisco is collaborating with Citrix on a broad range of virtualization technologies. Our first deliverables will be focused on giving end users a rich multimedia experience of voice, video and data on their virtual desktops and apps over the Cisco Intelligent Network, so that from any device from wherever they are, IT managers can deliver the same superior experience at a lower cost," said Phil Sherburne, vice president, Enterprise Systems and Architectures, Cisco.

Level 3 Combines Vyvx with Global Crossing Genesis.  Level 3 Communications (LVLT) announced an expanded set of media and broadcast services that combines Level 3's Vyvx Services platform for broadcast backhaul with Global Crossing's Genesis Solutions managed video contribution and distribution services. "From the transport of native or source HD and 3D television signals to the delivery of Internet Broadcast applications, we are exceedingly well positioned to fully manage end-to-end video for our broadcast and media clients," said Mark Taylor, vice president of Content and Media at Level 3. The Vyvx and Genesis solutions are built around a new generation of advanced video services designed to deliver broadcast quality rich media content to more than 450 markets in more than 45 network countries.

Blue Coat Adds Video Intelligence.  Blue Coat Systems (BCSI) announced that its Blue Coat Reporter now provides intelligence about the usage of Web video on corporate networks. The new version provides website ranking for sites that employees watch video on, ranking of employees using the greatest amount of bandwidth watching video, and ranking of the protocols or methods used to delivery web video. “Blue Coat uniquely solves the challenges companies face in delivering Web video and internal video over their existing networks,” said Steve Daheb, chief marketing officer and senior vice president, Blue Coat Systems. “The new Reporter product provides important insight on how employees are using Web video and enables companies to understand and address trends and patterns of behavior. In addition, our next generation WAN optimization solutions reduce the impact of video by a substantial factor while boosting the performance of business-critical applications.” Blue Coat Reporter 9.3 is available immediately.