Cisco CEO Is Big on Video for 2010

Updated with John Chambers Q&A comments.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (TheStreet) -- Cisco (CSCO) CEO John Chambers is pushing video to the forefront of the company's efforts in 2010, as the networking giant taps into the economic recovery.

Speaking during the company's financial analyst conference, Chambers explained that video will become a top priority as businesses search for new ways to share information.

"Video and collaboration are the two major moves we're going to make this year," he said, just days after the company gained approval for its acquisition of Norwegian videoconferencing specialist Tandberg. "The next generation will be all around video."

In a nod to the firm's server strategy, Chambers added that virtualization also will be key, but spent much of his presentation wielding a Flip video camera.

Flip maker Pure Digital, which was acquired by Cisco for $590 million earlier this year, was initially perceived as a consumer play. But Chambers explained that the cameras are also targeted at enterprise networks.

"It wasn't about the device, it was really about applications and the ability to drive video through the network," he added. "I love video-blogging on a Flip."

Chambers invited Cisco executive Jim Grubb onto the stage to illustrate how video can be shared across large enterprises. Grubb, who has earned cult-like status as Chambers' demo sidekick, filmed his boss on a Flip camera, connected it to an IP phone, and sent the clip to another Cisco employee.

Grubb and Chambers showed how video is embedded in the Cisco's C-Vision technology, which also features the firm's WebEx collaboration product. Described as a "YouTube"-style offering for enterprises, C-Vision is Cisco's attempt to turn social networking into new sources of revenue.

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