Wither the set-top box?

An agreement between Sony and several cable companies could render the familiar set-top box obsolete. Sony this week agreed to develop "plug and play" TVs that do not require a cable set-top box to access hundreds of stations and  pay-per-view services. The agreement was made between the consumer electronics giant and Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Cablevision Systems and Bright House Networks -- six companies that serve more than 82% of cable subscribers.

What it means for Cisco -- specifically, the Scientific-Atlanta piece of Cisco, which is one of the leading makers of cable set-top boxes -- is unclear. Other TV makers might still require a set-top box. Or Cisco could offer another box -- say, a home router or gateway -- that integrates TV and interactive video functionality along with switching, routing and mobility features. This would essentially be a set-top box by another name, with added functions.

Either way, it appears the set-top box as we know and love? it is going to become extinct. The implications for Cisco's Scientific-Atlanta business will be profound.

More from Cisco Subnet:

Cisco's new take on mobility
Cisco podcasts cover the security world
Mathias calls Cisco's MSE 'bold' and 'brilliant'
Cisco announces Etch, an alternative to SOAP
Cisco issues three patches to fix DoS bugs in IOS and Service Control Engine
Wendell Odom: Build a CCNP home lab

Go to Cisco Subnet for more Cisco news, blogs, discussion forums, security alerts, book giveaways, and more.