Cisco unleashes new internet protocol

The new routers, which will start shipping at the end of the month, will be the first to have built-in software support for IPv6, though IP-enabled devices are already available.

The function may provide an incentive for customers to upgrade from existing routers, boosting revenues for the company which has been badly hit by the slump in the dot-com sector.

However, the availability of IPv6 products will provide a good reason not to buy existing routers, leading to a possible worsening of Cisco's inventory problems.

In last week's quarterly results, the company took a $2.2bn charge for writing off inventory, contributing to a shock $2.96bn loss.

IPv6, the new version of the internet protocol, will offer a massively increased selection of IP numbers.

Every internet connected device needs its own IP number, and the current proliferation of internet devices such as mobile phones means that demand for IP numbers is at risk of outstripping supply.

The new standard will also offer improved support for a range of features, including end-to-end security and always-on access.

For a video interview with Vint Cerf - the man who has done more than any other to develop the protocols which make the net tick - see http://silicon.com/a41538