10.26.06
Cisco Empire
Cisco’s acquisition of Orative is a smart move by extending its Unified Communications portfolio to mobile devices such as cell and PDAs, Little by little, Cisco is building up a strong portfolio that is really going to change the overall IT space. Cisco is now not only pushing hard on data center backend consolidation among server (ie. Nuova, TopSpin), storage (ie. Andiamo) and network (ie. Actona, Fineground), but also combining various media such as voice, data, video and pumping these through a set of diverse front end channels: data network, cable and set-top boxes, wireless, fiber and other delivery infrastructure such as power line.
From a VC side, even though Mayfield and Diamondhead did OK on this deal since they got in early for the $6M series A, I agree with Matt that this is just a so-so outcome for investors.
