Cisco consolidates networking dominance
Called Universal Power Over Ethernet (UPOE), and already supported by new devices from Cisco and its partners, Cisco is pitching the technology as a way for enterprise customers to centralise power budgeting and for it to increase the value of the network.
“We're utilising intelligence in the network in a new way,” said Jeff Reed, VP of Cisco's Ethernet switching technology group, in an interview. “It shows that innovation in wired networking is alive and well.”
UPOE can offer twice the power per port of products from competing switch vendors - providing both power and network access to a greater range of devices through a single standard Ethernet cable, reveals Market Watch.
Additionally, Cisco said Samsung zero client desktop virtualisation devices and BT IP turrets have integrated Cisco UPOE technology into their devices to allow customers the immediate advantage of using their existing Cisco network to power these solutions.
According to The Register, UPOE is not yet a standard, but like POE an POEP, Cisco hopes it will become one.
The 60-watt power level is important because that is enough zip to power client devices on a minimalist corporate desktop, including an IP phone plus a thin client and display that are enabled to support the UPOP standard.
The 4500E UPOP linecard can support Cisco's own IP phones, personal telepresence systems, compact switches, and wireless access points.
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