UPDATED PHOTO GALLERY: Cisco opens Australian Customer Briefing Centre

The CBC includes Cisco Telepresence System 3000 and Telepresence System 1000 displaying examples of the company's latest innovations.

It has a number of 'virtual rooms' focusing on health, education, finance and SMBs.

The event was hosted by Les Williamson (pictured), vice president Cisco A/NZ at Cisco's headquarters in North Sydney.

Williamson said the CBC reflects Cisco's vision for Australia and New Zealand and shows customers and partners what applications they need and how to deliver them.

The event was also shown live on Cisco IP TV.

"We are changing the way health and education services are delivered in Australia and New Zealand and the role of business dialogue for productivity and improvement," said Williamson.

"Cisco believes the power of the network as a platform can change the way businesses are run.

"The ICT industry is rife with a number of centres but this is different because it is a customer and partner centric facility," he added.

Guests at the event included Jay Miley, vice president and managing director A/NZ, Ingram Micro, David Webster, managing director A/NZ, EMC,  Rod Vawdrey, CEO A/NZ, Fujitsu, John Simon, managing director Optus Business and Paul Timmins, managing director Australia Getronics.

Senator Stephen Conroy, the federal minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy officially opened the CBC.

He congratulated Cisco on its 25^th anniversary explaining that the company has 67,000 employees worldwide.

"Cisco is integral to the growth of the digital economy," he said.

"It is important for organisations to improve the way they communicate to improve the relationship between companies and customers and drive productivity."

Conroy added that through digital advances companies have a competitive advantage and that Cisco had contributed to the government's Digital Economy Future Directions Consultation Paper .

"We need to foster an environment where creative ideas and new efficiencies take hold," he said.

"The Centre highlights potential for digital technology to solve business problems. We need to understand the opportunities and roles we should play for all Australians to benefit."

Features of the CBC include the Cisco Digital Media System, the Cisco Internet Protocol Interoperability and Collaboration System (IPICS) 'media walls' displaying multimedia content and two telepresence facilities.

Williamson said the pods can be changed to suit the business or market at the time.