Did Flip flop? Many communicators say popular digital cam’s time had come

It’s not as if Cisco’s Flip was the only video camera around. But the announcement that the company is discontinuing the popular device was a startling sign of how rapidly change hits in technology—and in internal communications.

Just recently, Flip was seen as the latest cool toy, able to capture quick footage of a speech or images on the factory floor. Many still rely on the camera daily, but even Flip devotees say its demise won’t halt the spread of video in internal communications.

There are alternatives that many say have outpaced the Flip, such as Kodak’s Zi8 and Playtouch, industry watchers say.

“Alas, the once-trendy but now overshadowed Flip Camera from Cisco Systems is going the way of the dodo bird,” Pnosker.com blogged.

Carlos Dominguez, a senior VP at Cisco Systems, tweeted today, “I love Flip but the industry has changed since we bought them. Smartphones have great cameras and videos on it as 4G becomes pervasive it will enable you to record or broadcast from the phone.”