Cisco Umi: Telepresence For Everyone

Cisco's Telepresence is the leader in high-quality videoconferencing for the enterprise. Umi brings similar HD quality to home - and, potentially, small business users. But at cost - $600 for the device, $25 a month.

"Cisco has introduced Umi, a home telepresence system that uses existing high-definition TVs and also works with Google Video Chat.

Umi uses a console device, a remote and a camera unit with five microphones that sits on top of the TV, Cisco announced in San Francisco on Wednesday.

The service will include cloud-based contact lists and stored video. The system can be ordered now and will be available beginning Nov. 14 at the Magnolia high-end electronics stores at Best Buy. Verizon Communications, which has been running trials of the service, will offer it to its home broadband customers beginning early next year."