• CNet , Wednesday, January 7, 2009 12:46 PM

Cisco Systems is kicking off the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show by announcing Eos, a platform for creating social networks. The idea is to allow media companies to create, manage and grow their own communities by providing tools to make building social networking sites easy. According to CNet, Cisco is going after big media companies here (think Ning for large corporations). The technology comes from Five Across, a social networking software startup Cisco bought last year.

Cisco exec Dan Scheinman, who heads Eos, says the new software platform addresses a crucial problem facing media companies today. "The reality is that media is so disrupted by digital technology. Fans are looking for ways to connect to their favorite artists or TV shows and they are seeking out communities, but the media companies have been slow to provide this for them. Eos is centered around community and allows fans to participate."

Eos offers tools to create blogs, live chat, message boards, and rating and ranking systems. Warner Music Group is the service's first major client. "If media companies allowed people to interact with the music or the video and do some things it with it, it enhances the experience and makes the brand more powerful," Scheinman says.

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