Cisco picks up Scientific Atlanta for $7 billion

Cisco is about to move from the data center into your living
room. The company has announced plans to buy set-top box provider Scientific Atlanta for $5.3 billion. Cisco will
also acquire Sci Atlanta's cash horde of $1.7 billion, making the final value of the deal about $7 billion. With
cable companies increasingly moving into the internet business, the deal positions Cisco to grab a big piece of
the market for VoIP hardware, cable modems and related equipment, pitting it against companies like Motorola,
which also has a significant set-top and cable-modem business.