Cisco, HP Partner on Voice-Data Networks

Cisco Systems Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. said they will jointly develop products to combine voice and data communications on the Internet, using their existing partnership to enter a lucrative, emerging market. HP, the third-largest computer maker, and leading network equipment maker Cisco already share technology that lets companies handle both voice and data on their computer networks. The first new product from the partnership, the OpenCall Multiservice Controller, will let networks that run HP’s Unix-based operating system handle voice traffic. It is expected to ship next quarter. San Jose-based Cisco and Palo Alto-based HP said they’ll have additional products to combine voice and data traffic seamlessly between phone networks and the Internet by the second half of next year. . The new services may include audio electronic mail, high-speed data connections and Internet phone calls and video. Cisco shares fell 63 cents to close at $60.75 on Nasdaq; HP fell 13 cents to close at $57.56 on the New York Stock Exchange.