LOS ANGELES -- In an Internet World keynote address today Cisco CEO John Chambers stressed the importance of building a network infrastructure and preparing for rapid change.
Often leaving the stage to walk among the audience, Chambers pointed out the speed of which business now moves as it uses the Internet, expounded upon the idea of networks being connected to all appliances, and stressed the importance of education.
"When you look at what is driving the economic growth of the country, almost everybody says it's how we use technology for competitive advantage," said Chambers. "Almost everything is going to be connected to the Internet over time."
"In a period of less than three years, the network has changed everything," Chambers said. "What some people thought would take several decades, it's already there."
"For the first time, there is truly a level playing field between small companies and big companies,'' he said. "That doesn't mean that the small companies will necessarily win, it means the fast will beat the slow in this new economy. ... You are going to see winners and losers determined in not years, but one year."
Chambers also stressed the importance of government in building a network infrastructure and educating coming generations.
"As you move forward within this area you suddenly realize it isn't just business in this, it's countries," he said. "If you can't read and you can't operate a computer you're going to get a job that is very limited."
Chambers also stressed the idea that networks will connect to all appliances and demonstrated with a Cisco employee, whom he jokingly threatened to demote if the demo did not go well, a new Cisco IP telephone that Chambers spoke over using an Ethernet connection.
