Thursday, 27 September 2007

Cisco, Haier To Launch Home Networking Solutions

Cisco Systems has tied up with China’s largest consumer durables company Haier to launch a range of home networking products as both of them try to cash in on the Internet's growing popularity as an entertainment medium.

Cisco and Haier said in a joint statement that they will share best practices in management, strategic investment and construction in an effort to build home networking systems. Specific details of how the companies will do this weren't provided.

After years of concentrating on the Chinese market, Haier has been expanding globally launching range of consumer products such as TV, Air conditioners, Microwave oven, DVD player, washing machines and even mobile phones. Haier’s chief executive, Zhang Ruimin, said the company would look to Cisco to help it expand its brand overseas.

"We believe it is necessary to take advantage of Cisco's business practices as a model for efficient international expansion, particularly in areas like customer service that rely heavily on networked information technology," Ruimin said in the statement.

For Cisco, a relationship with the Haier Group provides ties to a huge manufacturer in one of the world's largest consumer markets.