Cisco aims at "social networking" for customers

Cisco systems (yes, the networking giant!!!) has made two acquisitions recently - Five Across, Inc. and Utah Street Networks, Inc.

Now why is this such a big news? Coz both the acquired companies are related to social networking.

In their own words, Five Across, Inc. is "a leading provider of social networking and community building technology that helps organizations ranging from small businesses to large enterprises connect to their community constituents and customer base". On the other hand, Utah Street Networks, Inc. is the operator of the social networking site Tribe.net, a San Francisco company that allows people to network online and build communities(tribes).

So what is Cisco doing in "social networking"?
Well, until now, there is no news of Cisco entering the Web 2.0 or social networking arena for common people. It sure wants to use the technology bought to build social networks, but for its own clients so that big and small consumers of Cisco products can network online.

However, there seems to be another interesting reason behind Cisco's decision.
An online article says this :
"The move is understandable, though. Based on conversations with three or four different Cisco executives in recent months, it is clear Cisco sees social networking and the wider Web 2.0 phenomenon as ways to drive Internet traffic, and thus traffic over their routers and other networking gear — and, it follows, more revenue for Cisco."

For direct news announcements from Cisco Networks, read this and this.