Cisco Announces Intent to Acquire BabbleLabs to Improve Video Meeting Experience

Most Advanced Noise Removal Enables Working from Anywhere, Without Distraction

Summary

Most Advanced Noise Removal Enables Working from Anywhere, Without Distraction
The acquisition builds upon a focused technology and talent strategy to continue to integrate intelligence into the Cisco COllaboration platform – helping users work smarter and be more productive.
Promote Customer privacy and Cloud Security by processing noise removal 100 percent at the source where the noise happens (on the client-side), aligning with Cisco’s culture of security by design.

According to a Cisco global survey* focused on the future of work, 98 percent of workers say they experience frustration from distractions during video meetings when working from home. Two of the top 5 frustrations called out are about background noise—either from other participants or their own side of the call.

With the addition of BabbleLabs, Cisco will bring native noise removal capability to its entire Collaboration portfolio. Initially, Cisco will focus on integrating BabbleLabs to deliver a best-in-class audio experience to Webex Meetings users – wherever they are, and however, they connect via the Webex application (whether via a conference room or mobile device). A great user experience is also secure user experience. BabbleLabs complements Cisco’s focus on secure and private collaboration by processing noise removal 100 percent at the source where the noise happens (on the client-side). In doing so, BabbleLabs aligns with strict data policies that underpin Cisco’s culture of security by design.

“A great meeting experience starts with great audio,” said Jeetu Patel, senior vice president, and general manager, Cisco Security and Applications Business Unit. “We’re thrilled to welcome BabbleLabs’ team of highly skilled engineers. Their technology is going to provide our customers with yet another important innovation – automatically removing unwanted noise – to continue enabling exceptional Webex meeting experiences.”

“BabbleLabs is excited to become part of Cisco and the Collaboration Group,” said Chris Rowen, CEO, and co-founder of BabbleLabs. “The Cisco team shares our passion for speech as the core of collaboration and communication. Cisco’s Collaboration platform will enable us to quickly scale our exceptional speech enhancement technology for hundreds of millions of Webex users.”