INTEL bailed out, much to our dismay, after considering a similar path. As it looks now, in hindsight, INTEL could have had a leg up on Apple. So much for hindsight.

Cisco Systems to target consumer market: report Mon Jan 16, 12:20 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO - news) plans to expand its share of the consumer electronics market by selling phones, radios and home theater equipment, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

The communications equipment maker believes it can take a slice of a new market for devices that link to the Internet, the newspaper said.

``Consumer electronics companies have been able to compete on a stand-alone device, but the dynamics of the market are changing,`` Cisco`s Chief Development Officer, Charles Giancarlo, said in an interview with the paper.

``The Internet and new networking requirements are enough of a disruptor for us to enter a new market.``

Cisco, which makes much of its revenue from selling the devices that direct Internet data, is expanding its reach into several newer businesses as it seeks to grow its stock price and reinvigorate its revenue growth.