Cisco: 'Little interest' in building its own smartphones

NEW YORK, USA:Cisco Systems has "little interest" in selling its own smartphones, according to CEO John Chambers. However, he said the networking equipment company sees partnerships with smartphone makers such as Apple, Palm and Research In Motion as natural extensions of its business philosophy.

"We love anybody who loads up networks, and smartphones do," Chambers told Bloomberg. "I see RIM, Apple and Palm as companies to partner with to help sell networks. I think they see us the same way."

The comments are notable in light of other companies that have recently begun to branch out from their traditional areas of expertise into smartphones. Indeed, computer makers Dell and Acer have begun releasing smartphones, and GPS company Garmin formed a partnership with AsusTek Computer to make smartphones.

Despite Cisco's apparent aversion to getting directly involved in smartphones (despite the fact the company makes a range of desk phones), Cisco appears to be gearing up for the increased data traffic driven by smartphone users. In October, the company paid $2.9 billion to acquire Starent Networks, a move intended to give it a stronger position in the data trafficking sector.

(Phil Goldstein, fiercewireless.com)