Cisco plans to plug a hole in its any content anywhere approach, called Videoscape, with the purchase of Inlet Technologies for $95 million.
Inlet has a streaming appliance based on adaptive bit rate (ABR). With ABR, the company streaming video can adjust the bit rate of the stream on the fly, in consideration of network conditions, thereby assuring stream continuity.
Cisco plans to incorporate Inlet’s ABR technology in its Videoscape TV platform, to improve its ability to get content to mobile devices over IP networks.
Inlet made its reputation in part by becoming one of the first companies to demonstrate the ability to stream content to Apple’s iPhone. Customers include the BBC and the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC).
Cisco introduced its Videoscape concept at the recent CES; it’s a TV platform for service providers that brings together digital TV and online content with social media and communications applications.
Upon the close of the acquisition, Inlet employees will be integrated into Cisco’s Service Provider Video Technology Group.
“Service and content providers have a tremendous opportunity to deliver exciting video experiences as media consumption increases across mobile, desktop and smart devices,” said Enrique Rodriguez, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco’s Service Provider Video Technology Group. “Cisco’s Videoscape platform will play a key role in reinventing the TV experience, and the acquisition of Inlet will enable our customers to leverage the network as a platform to deliver innovative video experiences to consumers on any device.”