Mahindra, Cisco to collaborate in smart cities initiatives, cloud services

By eGov Innovation Editors | Mar 23, 2011

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MUMBAI -- Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Cisco recently signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding for collaboration on go-to-market strategies in areas that include smart cities, virtual dealership, sports and entertainment, and cloud services.

The collaboration agreement brings together Cisco's technology prowess and Mahindra & Mahindra's expertise across diverse industries and market segments in India.

"By collaborating with Cisco to build smarter, connected communities, virtual dealerships and other projects, we are empowering our stakeholders – dealers, customers, partners and others to use technology for the greater good, thereby enabling them to rise," saod Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman & managing director, Mahindra Group.

Under the non-binding MOU, Cisco and Mahindra will explore opportunities to collaborate on comprehensive differentiated offerings in the sports and entertainment market to provide a range of industry-specific offerings. These include the Cisco Connected Stadium platform and the StadiumVision solution using the network as a platform, with additive elements for access control, wireless, RFID, smart-card ticketing and loyalty programs, points of sale, and hospitality.

Additionally, Cisco and Mahindra will explore opportunities to develop cloud-based solutions and services around S+CC, virtual sales and sports and entertainment as a service in a private-public-hybrid cloud in both build operate transfer and managed services models.  

"The Internet of Things and the power of network are transforming the way we live, work, learn and play.  Cisco envisages that all future successful communities will run on networked information.  Using Cisco's Smart+Connected Communities framework, we have led several projects that drive social, economic and environmental sustainability, using technology as the key enabler, said Wim Elfrink, executive vice president, Emerging Solutions & chief globalization officer for Cisco.