Table of Contents
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)
x 	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	
For the quarterly period ended January 26, 2008
OR
 
¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	
For the transition period from              to             
Commission file number 0-18225

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 
			
California	 	77-0059951	
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)	 	(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)	
170 West Tasman Drive
San Jose, California 95134
(Address of principal executive office and zip code)
(408) 526-4000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES   x     NO   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer   x	 	Accelerated filer   ¨	
		
Non-accelerated filer   ¨	 	Smaller reporting company   ¨	
		
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	 		
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES   ¨     NO   x
As of February 14, 2008, 5,960,997,252 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

Table of Contents
 Cisco Systems, Inc.
FORM 10-Q for the Quarter Ended January 26, 2008
INDEX

 	 	 	 	 	  	Page	
Part I.	 		 	Financial Information	  		
	 	Item 1.	 	Financial Statements (Unaudited)	  		
	 		 	Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007	  	3	
	 		 	Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007	  	4	
	 		 	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007	  	5	
	 		 	Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007	  	6	
	 		 	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	  	7	
	 	Item 2.	 	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	  	27	
	 	Item 3.	 	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	  	47	
	 	Item 4.	 	Controls and Procedures	  	49	
Part II.	 		 	Other Information	  		
	 	Item 1.	 	Legal Proceedings	  	50	
	 	Item 1A.	 	Risk Factors	  	51	
	 	Item 2.	 	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	  	64	
	 	Item 3.	 	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	  	64	
	 	Item 4.	 	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders	  	64	
	 	Item 5.	 	Other Information	  	65	
	 	Item 6.	 	Exhibits	  	65	
	 		 	Signature	  	66	
 
2

Table of Contents
 PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited)	
 CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per-share amounts)
(Unaudited)

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	
NET SALES:	  			  			  			  			
Product	  	$	8,245	  	$	7,099	  	$	16,260	  	$	14,039	
Service	  	 	1,586	  	 	1,340	  	 	3,125	  	 	2,584	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total net sales	  	 	9,831	  	 	8,439	  	 	19,385	  	 	16,623	

COST OF SALES:	  			  			  			  			
Product	  	 	2,882	  	 	2,544	  	 	5,705	  	 	5,043	
Service	  	 	609	  	 	507	  	 	1,167	  	 	959	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total cost of sales	  	 	3,491	  	 	3,051	  	 	6,872	  	 	6,002	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
GROSS MARGIN	  	 	6,340	  	 	5,388	  	 	12,513	  	 	10,621	
					
OPERATING EXPENSES:	  			  			  			  			
Research and development	  	 	1,216	  	 	1,094	  	 	2,408	  	 	2,177	
Sales and marketing	  	 	2,084	  	 	1,726	  	 	4,087	  	 	3,412	
General and administrative	  	 	520	  	 	340	  	 	1,010	  	 	704	
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	  	 	116	  	 	96	  	 	233	  	 	201	
In-process research and development	  	 	—  	  	 	2	  	 	3	  	 	6	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total operating expenses	  	 	3,936	  	 	3,258	  	 	7,741	  	 	6,500	

OPERATING INCOME	  	 	2,404	  	 	2,130	  	 	4,772	  	 	4,121	
Interest income, net	  	 	212	  	 	172	  	 	435	  	 	329	
Other income, net	  	 	22	  	 	33	  	 	53	  	 	61	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Interest and other income, net	  	 	234	  	 	205	  	 	488	  	 	390	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	  	 	2,638	  	 	2,335	  	 	5,260	  	 	4,511	
Provision for income taxes	  	 	578	  	 	414	  	 	995	  	 	982	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
NET INCOME	  	$	2,060	  	$	1,921	  	$	4,265	  	$	3,529	

Net income per share — basic	  	$	0.34	  	$	0.32	  	$	0.71	  	$	0.58	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Net income per share — diluted	  	$	0.33	  	$	0.31	  	$	0.68	  	$	0.56	

Shares used in per-share calculation — basic	  	 	6,010	  	 	6,057	  	 	6,049	  	 	6,060	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Shares used in per-share calculation — diluted	  	 	6,202	  	 	6,291	  	 	6,273	  	 	6,255	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
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Table of Contents
 CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except par value)
(Unaudited)

 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	    July 28,   
2007	
ASSETS	  				 			
Current assets:	  				 			
Cash and cash equivalents	  	$	5,202	 	 	$	3,728	
Investments	  	 	17,491	 	 	 	18,538	
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $185 at January 26, 2008 and $166 at July 28, 2007	  	 	4,165	 	 	 	3,989	
Inventories	  	 	1,267	 	 	 	1,322	
Deferred tax assets	  	 	2,048	 	 	 	1,953	
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	  	 	2,269	 	 	 	2,044	

Total current assets	  	 	32,442	 	 	 	31,574	
			
Property and equipment, net	  	 	3,973	 	 	 	3,893	
Goodwill	  	 	12,390	 	 	 	12,121	
Purchased intangible assets, net	  	 	2,338	 	 	 	2,540	
Other assets	  	 	4,157	 	 	 	3,212	

TOTAL ASSETS	  	$	55,300	 	 	$	53,340	

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	  				 			
Current liabilities:	  				 			
Accounts payable	  	$	763	 	 	$	786	
Income taxes payable	  	 	96	 	 	 	1,740	
Accrued compensation	  	 	1,981	 	 	 	2,019	
Deferred revenue	  	 	5,786	 	 	 	5,391	
Other current liabilities	  	 	3,567	 	 	 	3,422	

Total current liabilities	  	 	12,193	 	 	 	13,358	
			
Long-term debt	  	 	6,851	 	 	 	6,408	
Income taxes payable	  	 	791	 	 	 	—  	
Deferred revenue	  	 	2,197	 	 	 	1,646	
Other long-term liabilities	  	 	375	 	 	 	438	

Total liabilities	  	 	22,407	 	 	 	21,850	

Minority interest	  	 	81	 	 	 	10	
Shareholders’ equity:	  				 			
Preferred stock, no par value: 5 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding	  	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	
Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.001 par value: 20,000 shares authorized; 5,975 and 6,100 shares issued and outstanding at January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007, respectively	  	 	32,773	 	 	 	30,687	
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	  	 	(1,073	)	 	 	231	
Accumulated other comprehensive income	  	 	1,112	 	 	 	562	

Total shareholders’ equity	  	 	32,812	 	 	 	31,480	

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	  	$	55,300	 	 	$	53,340	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
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Table of Contents
 CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
(Unaudited)

 	  	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Cash flows from operating activities:	  				 				
Net income	  	$	4,265	 	 	$	3,529	 	
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	  				 				
Depreciation and amortization	  	 	878	 	 	 	690	 	
Employee share-based compensation expense	  	 	499	 	 	 	472	 	
Share-based compensation expense related to acquisitions and investments	  	 	45	 	 	 	19	 	
Provision for doubtful accounts	  	 	29	 	 	 	—  	 	
Deferred income taxes	  	 	(632	)	 	 	(66	)	
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	  	 	(338	)	 	 	(428	)	
In-process research and development	  	 	3	 	 	 	6	 	
Net gains and impairment charges on investments	  	 	(104	)	 	 	(99	)	
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:	  				 				
Accounts receivable	  	 	(196	)	 	 	395	 	
Inventories	  	 	66	 	 	 	(271	)	
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	  	 	38	 	 	 	(39	)	
Lease receivables, net	  	 	(260	)	 	 	(66	)	
Accounts payable	  	 	(33	)	 	 	51	 	
Income taxes payable and receivable	  	 	220	 	 	 	104	 	
Accrued compensation	  	 	(38	)	 	 	73	 	
Deferred revenue	  	 	946	 	 	 	412	 	
Other liabilities	  	 	144	 	 	 	147	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	  	 	5,532	 	 	 	4,929	 	

Cash flows from investing activities:	  				 				
Purchases of investments	  	 	(7,846	)	 	 	(11,184	)	
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments	  	 	9,453	 	 	 	7,762	 	
Acquisition of property and equipment	  	 	(591	)	 	 	(548	)	
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired	  	 	(385	)	 	 	(166	)	
Change in investments in privately held companies	  	 	(55	)	 	 	(76	)	
Other	  	 	(111	)	 	 	(27	)	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	  	 	465	 	 	 	(4,239	)	

Cash flows from financing activities:	  				 				
Issuance of common stock	  	 	2,165	 	 	 	2,779	 	
Repurchase of common stock	  	 	(7,120	)	 	 	(4,781	)	
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	  	 	338	 	 	 	428	 	
Other	  	 	94	 	 	 	21	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash used in financing activities	  	 	(4,523	)	 	 	(1,553	)	

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	  	 	1,474	 	 	 	(863	)	
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	  	 	3,728	 	 	 	3,297	 	

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	  	$	5,202	 	 	$	2,434	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
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Table of Contents
 CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in millions)
(Unaudited)

Six Months Ended January 27, 2007	  	Shares
of
     Common      
Stock	 	 	Common Stock
and Additional
Paid-In
Capital	 	 	Retained
Earnings
  (Accumulated 
Deficit)	 	 	Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income	  	Total
 Shareholders’  
Equity	 	
BALANCE AT JULY 29, 2006	  	6,059	 	 	$	24,257	 	 	$	(617	)	 	$	272	  	$	23,912	 	
Net income	  	—  	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	3,529	 	 	 	—  	  	 	3,529	 	
Change in unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of tax	  	—  	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	107	  	 	107	 	
Other	  	—  	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	41	  	 	41	 	
	  			 				 				 			  	 	 	 	
Comprehensive income	  			 				 				 			  	 	3,677	 	
	  			 				 				 			  	 	 	 	
Issuance of common stock	  	176	 	 	 	2,779	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	  	 	2,779	 	
Repurchase of common stock	  	(187	)	 	 	(786	)	 	 	(3,995	)	 	 	—  	  	 	(4,781	)	
Tax benefits from employee stock incentive plans	  	—  	 	 	 	503	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	  	 	503	 	
Purchase acquisitions	  	—  	 	 	 	3	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	  	 	3	 	
Employee share-based compensation expense	  	—  	 	 	 	470	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	  	 	470	 	
Share-based compensation expense related to acquisitions and investments	  	—  	 	 	 	19	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	  	 	19	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
BALANCE AT JANUARY 27, 2007	  	6,048	 	 	$	27,245	 	 	$	(1,083	)	 	$	420	  	$	26,582	 	

Six Months Ended January 26, 2008	  	Shares
of
Common
Stock	 	 	Common Stock
and Additional
Paid-In
Capital	 	 	Retained
Earnings
(Accumulated
Deficit)	 	 	Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income	  	Total
Shareholders’
Equity	 	
BALANCE AT JULY 28, 2007	  	6,100	 	 	$	30,687	 	 	$	231	 	 	$	562	  	$	31,480	 	
Cumulative effect of adopting FIN 48	  	—  	 	 	 	249	 	 	 	202	 	 	 	—  	  	 	451	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
BALANCE AT JULY 29, 2007	  	6,100	 	 	 	30,936	 	 	 	433	 	 	 	562	  	 	31,931	 	
Net income	  	—  	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	4,265	 	 	 	—  	  	 	4,265	 	
Change in unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of tax	  	—  	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	468	  	 	468	 	
Other	  	—  	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	82	  	 	82	 	
	  			 				 				 			  	 	 	 	
Comprehensive income	  			 				 				 			  	 	4,815	 	
	  			 				 				 			  	 	 	 	
Issuance of common stock	  	111	 	 	 	2,165	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	  	 	2,165	 	
Repurchase of common stock	  	(236	)	 	 	(1,249	)	 	 	(5,771	)	 	 	—  	  	 	(7,020	)	
Tax benefits from employee stock incentive plans	  	—  	 	 	 	368	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	  	 	368	 	
Purchase acquisitions	  	—  	 	 	 	9	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	  	 	9	 	
Employee share-based compensation expense	  	—  	 	 	 	499	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	  	 	499	 	
Share-based compensation expense related to acquisitions and investments	  	—  	 	 	 	45	 	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	  	 	45	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
BALANCE AT JANUARY 26, 2008	  	5,975	 	 	$	32,773	 	 	$	(1,073	)	 	$	1,112	  	$	32,812	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Supplemental Information
In September 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program. As of January 26, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors had authorized an aggregate repurchase of up to $62 billion of common stock under this program. For additional information regarding stock repurchases, see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The stock repurchases since the inception of this program and the related impact on shareholders’ equity are summarized in the table below (in millions):

 	  	Shares
of
     Common      
Stock	  	Common Stock
and Additional
Paid-In
Capital	  	Retained
Earnings
  (Accumulated 
Deficit)	  	Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income	  	Total
 Shareholders’  
Equity	
Repurchases of common stock	  	2,463	  	$	8,819	  	$	41,410	  	$	—  	  	$	50,229	
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
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Table of Contents
 CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
1.	Basis of Presentation	
The fiscal year for Cisco Systems, Inc. (the “Company” or “Cisco”) is the 52 or 53 weeks ending on the last Saturday in July. Fiscal 2008 and 2007 are 52-week fiscal years. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Cisco and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
The Company conducts business globally and is primarily managed on a geographic basis in the following theaters: United States and Canada; European Markets; Emerging Markets; Asia Pacific; and Japan. The Emerging Markets theater consists of Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The accompanying financial data as of January 26, 2008 and for the three and six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007 has been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The July 28, 2007 Consolidated Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. However, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 28, 2007.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments, except as disclosed herein) necessary to present a fair statement of financial position as of January 26, 2008, results of operations for the three months and six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007, cash flows, and shareholders’ equity for the six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007, as applicable, have been made. The results of operations for the three and six months ended January 26, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future periods.
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts in order to conform to the current period’s presentation.
 
2.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	
Computation of Net Income per Share
Basic net income per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive potential common shares primarily consist of employee stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, “Earnings per Share,” requires that employee equity share options, unvested shares, and similar equity instruments granted by the Company be treated as potential common shares outstanding in computing diluted earnings per share. Diluted shares outstanding include the dilutive effect of in-the-money options which is calculated based on the average share price for each fiscal period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the amount the employee must pay for exercising stock options, the amount of compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of tax benefits that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital when the award becomes deductible are assumed to be used to repurchase shares.
 
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Income Taxes
In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Financial Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), which is a change in accounting for income taxes. FIN 48 specifies how tax benefits for uncertain tax positions are to be recognized, measured, and derecognized in financial statements; requires certain disclosures of uncertain tax positions; specifies how reserves for uncertain tax positions should be classified on the balance sheet; and provides transition and interim-period guidance, among other provisions. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and as a result, was effective for the Company on July 29, 2007. See Note 11 for additional information, including the effects of adoption on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
SFAS 157
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework and gives guidance regarding the methods used for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the effect that SFAS 157 may have on its results of operations and financial position.
SFAS 159
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 is expected to expand the use of fair value accounting but does not affect existing standards which require certain assets or liabilities to be carried at fair value. The objective of SFAS 159 is to improve financial reporting by providing companies with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. Under SFAS 159, a company may choose, at specified election dates, to measure eligible items at fair value and report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the effect that SFAS 159 may have on its results of operations and financial position.
SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”) and SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 141(R) will significantly change current practices regarding business combinations. Among the more significant changes, SFAS 141(R) expands the definition of a business and a business combination; requires the acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests (including goodwill), measured at fair value at the acquisition date; requires acquisition-related expenses and restructuring costs to be recognized separately from the business combination; requires assets acquired and liabilities assumed from contractual and non-contractual contingencies to be recognized at their acquisition-date fair values with subsequent changes recognized in earnings; and requires in-process research and development to be capitalized at fair value as an indefinite-lived intangible asset. SFAS 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, reporting them as equity separate from the parent entity’s equity, as well as requiring expanded disclosures. SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently assessing the impact that SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160 will have on its results of operations and financial position.
 
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3.	Business Combinations	
Purchase Acquisitions
A summary of the purchase acquisitions for the six months ended January 26, 2008 is as follows (in millions):

 	  	Purchase
Consideration	  	In-Process
R&D Expense	  	   Purchased   
Intangible
Assets	  	    Goodwill    	
Navini Networks, Inc.	  	$	276	  	$	—  	  	$	108	  	$	172	
Securent Inc.	  	 	75	  	 	—  	  	 	24	  	 	56	
Other	  	 	48	  	 	3	  	 	11	  	 	27	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	399	  	$	3	  	$	143	  	$	255	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Under the terms of the definitive agreements, the purchase consideration related to the acquisitions completed during the six months ended January 26, 2008 consisted of cash and fully vested stock options assumed. The purchase consideration for the Company’s acquisitions is also allocated to tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the operating results of each business from the date of acquisition. Pro forma results of operations for the acquisitions completed during the six months ended January 26, 2008 have not been presented  because the effects of the acquisitions, individually or in the aggregate, were not material to the Company’s financial results.
Purchased Intangible Assets and In-Process Research and Development
The following table presents the amortization of purchased intangible assets and in-process research and development (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	  			  			  			  			
Cost of sales	  	$	61	  	$	36	  	$	122	  	$	72	
Operating expenses	  	 	116	  	 	96	  	 	233	  	 	201	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	177	  	$	132	  	$	355	  	$	273	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
In-process research and development	  	$	—  	  	$	2	  	$	3	  	$	6	
The Company’s methodology for allocating the purchase price for purchase acquisitions to in-process research and development (“in-process R&D”) is determined through established valuation techniques. In-process R&D is expensed upon acquisition because technological feasibility has not been established and no future alternative uses exist.
The following table presents details of the purchased intangible assets acquired during the six months ended January 26, 2008 (in millions, except years):

 	  	TECHNOLOGY	  	CUSTOMER
RELATIONSHIPS	  	OTHER	  	TOTAL	
 	  	Weighted-
Average
Useful Life
(in Years)	  	Amount	  	Weighted-
Average
Useful Life
(in Years)	  	Amount	  	Weighted-
Average
Useful Life
(in Years)	  	Amount	  	Amount	
Navini Networks, Inc.	  	5.0	  	$	95	  	4.0	  	$	          6	  	1.2	  	$	7	  	$	108	
Securent Inc.	  	5.0	  	 	20	  	4.0	  	 	3	  	3.6	  	 	1	  	 	24	
Other	  	4.1	  	 	11	  	—  	  	 	—  	  	—  	  	 	—  	  	 	11	
	  		  	 	 	  		  	 	 	  		  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  		  	$	      126	  		  	$	9	  		  	$	          8	  	$	      143	

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The following tables present details of the Company’s purchased intangible assets (in millions):

January 26, 2008	  	      Gross      	  	Accumulated
Amortization	 	 	        Net        	
Technology	  	$	1,673	  	$	(691	)	 	$	982	
Customer relationships	  	 	1,821	  	 	(555	)	 	 	1,266	
Other	  	 	246	  	 	(156	)	 	 	90	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	3,740	  	$	(1,402	)	 	$	2,338	

July 28, 2007	  	Gross	  	Accumulated
Amortization	 	 	Net	
Technology	  	$	1,546	  	$	(505	)	 	$	1,041	
Customer relationships	  	 	1,812	  	 	(421	)	 	 	1,391	
Other	  	 	238	  	 	(130	)	 	 	108	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	3,596	  	$	(1,056	)	 	$	2,540	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The estimated future amortization expense of purchased intangible assets as of January 26, 2008 is as follows (in millions):

Fiscal Year	  	Amount	
2008 (remaining six months)	  	$	338	
2009	  	 	619	
2010	  	 	502	
2011	  	 	410	
2012	  	 	274	
Thereafter	  	 	195	
	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	2,338	
	  	 	 	
Goodwill
The following table presents the changes in goodwill allocated to the Company’s reportable segments during the six months ended January 26, 2008 (in millions):

 	  	  Balance at 
July 28,
2007	  	Acquisitions	  	     Other    	  	Balance at
 January 26,
2008	
United States and Canada	  	$	9,017	  	$	79	  	$	1	  	$	9,097	
European Markets	  	 	1,525	  	 	72	  	 	13	  	 	1,610	
Emerging Markets	  	 	361	  	 	44	  	 	—  	  	 	405	
Asia Pacific	  	 	420	  	 	59	  	 	—  	  	 	479	
Japan	  	 	798	  	 	1	  	 	—  	  	 	799	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	12,121	  	$	255	  	$	14	  	$	12,390	

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Compensation Expense Related to Acquisitions and Investments
The following table presents the compensation expense related to acquisitions and investments (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	
Share-based compensation expense	  	$	21	  	$	9	  	$	45	  	$	19	
Cash compensation expense	  	 	13	  	 	18	  	 	28	  	 	29	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	34	  	$	27	  	$	73	  	$	48	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Share-Based Compensation Expense
As of January 26, 2008, the remaining balance of share-based compensation related to acquisitions and investments to be recognized over the vesting periods was approximately $289 million.
Cash Compensation Expense
In connection with the Company’s purchase acquisitions, asset purchases, and acquisitions of variable interest entities, the Company has agreed to pay certain additional amounts in cash contingent upon achieving certain agreed-upon technology, development, product, or other milestones; or continued employment of certain employees with the Company. In each case, any additional amounts paid will be recorded as compensation expense. As of January 26, 2008, the Company had remaining potential payments of up to $181 million pursuant to these agreements.
 
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4.	Balance Sheet Details	
The following tables provide details of selected balance sheet items (in millions):

 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	    July 28,   
2007	 	
Inventories:	  				 				
Raw materials	  	$	146	 	 	$	173	 	
Work in process	  	 	58	 	 	 	45	 	
Finished goods:	  				 				
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	  	 	502	 	 	 	544	 	
Manufactured finished goods	  	 	318	 	 	 	314	 	

Total finished goods	  	 	820	 	 	 	858	 	

Service-related spares	  	 	203	 	 	 	211	 	
Demonstration systems	  	 	40	 	 	 	35	 	

Total	  	$	1,267	 	 	$	1,322	 	

Property and equipment, net:	  				 				
Land, buildings, and leasehold improvements	  	$	4,159	 	 	$	4,022	 	
Computer equipment and related software	  	 	1,731	 	 	 	1,605	 	
Production, engineering, and other equipment	  	 	4,550	 	 	 	4,264	 	
Operating lease assets	  	 	190	 	 	 	181	 	
Furniture and fixtures	  	 	414	 	 	 	394	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	 	11,044	 	 	 	10,466	 	
			
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	  	 	(7,071	)	 	 	(6,573	)	

Total	  	$	3,973	 	 	$	3,893	 	

Other assets:	  				 				
Deferred tax assets	  	$	1,613	 	 	$	1,060	 	
Investments in privately held companies	  	 	666	 	 	 	643	 	
Income tax receivable	  	 	—  	 	 	 	277	 	
Lease receivables, net	  	 	706	 	 	 	539	 	
Interest rate swaps, long-term debt	  	 	361	 	 	 	—  	 	
Other	  	 	811	 	 	 	693	 	

Total	  	$	4,157	 	 	$	3,212	 	

Deferred revenue:	  				 				
Service	  	$	5,292	 	 	$	4,840	 	
Product:	  				 				
Unrecognized revenue on product shipments and other deferred revenue	  	 	2,010	 	 	 	1,769	 	
Cash receipts related to unrecognized revenue from two-tier distributors	  	 	681	 	 	 	428	 	

Total product deferred revenue	  	 	2,691	 	 	 	2,197	 	

Total	  	$	7,983	 	 	$	7,037	 	

Reported as:	  				 				
Current	  	$	5,786	 	 	$	5,391	 	
Noncurrent	  	 	2,197	 	 	 	1,646	 	

Total	  	$	7,983	 	 	$	7,037	 	

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5.	Lease Receivables, Net	
Lease receivables represent sales-type and direct-financing leases resulting from the sale of the Company’s and complementary third-party products and services. These lease arrangements typically have terms from two to three years and are generally collateralized by a security interest in the underlying assets. The current portion of lease receivables, net, is recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets, and the noncurrent portion is recorded in other assets. The net lease receivables are summarized as follows (in millions):

 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	    July 28,   
2007	 	
Gross lease receivables	  	$	1,463	 	 	$	1,140	 	
Unearned income and other allowances	  	 	(275	)	 	 	(212	)	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	1,188	 	 	$	928	 	

Reported as:	  				 				
Current	  	$	482	 	 	$	389	 	
Noncurrent	  	 	706	 	 	 	539	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	1,188	 	 	$	928	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Contractual maturities of the gross lease receivables at January 26, 2008 were $320 million in the remaining six months of fiscal 2008, $506 million in fiscal 2009, $348 million in fiscal 2010, $190 million in fiscal 2011, and $99 million in fiscal 2012 and thereafter. Actual cash collections may differ from the contractual maturities due to early customer buyouts, refinancings, or defaults.
 
6.	Investments	
The following tables summarize the Company’s investments (in millions):

January 26, 2008	  	Amortized
Cost	  	Gross
Unrealized
Gains	  	Gross
Unrealized
Losses	 	 	Fair Value	
Fixed income securities:	  			  			  				 			
U.S. government notes and bonds	  	$	7,421	  	$	215	  	$	—  	 	 	$	7,636	
Corporate notes, bonds, and asset-backed securities	  	 	8,299	  	 	99	  	 	(83	)	 	 	8,315	
Municipal notes and bonds	  	 	3	  	 	—  	  	 	—  	 	 	 	3	

Total fixed income securities	  	 	15,723	  	 	314	  	 	(83	)	 	 	15,954	
Publicly traded equity securities	  	 	815	  	 	775	  	 	(53	)	 	 	1,537	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	  16,538	  	$	1,089	  	$	(136	)	 	$	  17,491	

July 28, 2007	  	Amortized
Cost	  	Gross
Unrealized
Gains	  	Gross
Unrealized
Losses	 	 	Fair Value	
Fixed income securities:	  			  			  				 			
U.S. government notes and bonds	  	$	6,919	  	$	29	  	$	(8	)	 	$	6,940	
Corporate notes, bonds, and asset-backed securities	  	 	8,765	  	 	7	  	 	(57	)	 	 	8,715	
Municipal notes and bonds	  	 	1,643	  	 	—  	  	 	(1	)	 	 	1,642	

Total fixed income securities	  	 	17,327	  	 	36	  	 	(66	)	 	 	17,297	
Publicly traded equity securities	  	 	901	  	 	354	  	 	(14	)	 	 	1,241	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	18,228	  	$	390	  	$	(80	)	 	$	18,538	

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The following table summarizes the maturities of the Company’s fixed income securities at January 26, 2008 (in millions):

 	  	Amortized
Cost	  	      Fair     
Value	
Less than 1 year	  	$	5,754	  	$	5,785	
Due in 1 to 2 years	  	 	3,986	  	 	4,072	
Due in 2 to 5 years	  	 	4,695	  	 	4,839	
Due after 5 years	  	 	1,288	  	 	1,258	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	15,723	  	$	15,954	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Actual maturities may differ from the contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay certain obligations.
 
7.	Borrowings	
Long-Term Debt
In February 2006, the Company issued $500 million of senior floating interest rate notes due 2009 (the “2009 Notes”), $3.0 billion of 5.25% senior notes due 2011 (the “2011 Notes”), and $3.0 billion of 5.50% senior notes due 2016 (the “2016 Notes”), for an aggregate principal amount of $6.5 billion. The following table summarizes the Company’s long-term debt (in millions, except percentages):

 	  	January 26, 2008	 	 	July 28, 2007	 	
 	  	Amount	 	 	Effective
Rate (1)	 	 	Amount	 	 	Effective
Rate (1)	 	
Senior notes:	  				 			 				 			
Floating-rate notes, due 2009	  	$	500	 	 	5.09	%	 	$	500	 	 	5.44	%	
5.25% fixed-rate notes, due 2011	  	 	3,000	 	 	5.21	%	 	 	3,000	 	 	5.56	%	
5.50% fixed-rate notes, due 2016	  	 	3,000	 	 	5.44	%	 	 	3,000	 	 	5.79	%	

Total senior notes	  	 	6,500	 	 			 	 	6,500	 	 			
					
Other notes	  	 	5	 	 			 	 	5	 	 			
Unamortized discount	  	 	(15	)	 			 	 	(16	)	 			
Fair value adjustment	  	 	361	 	 			 	 	(81	)	 			

Total	  	$	 6,851	 	 			 	$	 6,408	 	 			

(1)	The effective rates for the 2011 Notes and the 2016 Notes reflect the variable rate in effect as of the period end on the interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges of those notes, including the amortization of the discount.	
The 2011 Notes and the 2016 Notes are redeemable by the Company at any time, subject to a make-whole premium. To achieve its interest rate objectives, the Company entered into $6.0 billion notional amount of interest rate swaps. In effect, these swaps convert the fixed interest rates of the 2011 Notes and the 2016 Notes to floating interest rates based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). Gains and losses in the fair value of the interest rate swaps offset changes in the fair value of the underlying debt. The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of January 26, 2008.
Interest is payable quarterly on the 2009 Notes and semi-annually on the 2011 Notes and 2016 Notes. Interest expense, net of hedging, included in interest income, net, as well as cash paid for interest, are summarized as follows (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	
Interest expense	  	$	91	  	$	95	  	$	187	  	$	189	
Cash paid for interest	  	$	7	  	$	7	  	$	185	  	$	173	
 
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Credit Facility
On August 17, 2007, the Company entered into a credit agreement with certain institutional lenders that provides for a $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility that is scheduled to expire on August 17, 2012. Any advances under the credit agreement will accrue interest at rates that are equal to, based on certain conditions, either (i) the higher of the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% or Bank of America’s “prime rate” as announced from time to time, or (ii) LIBOR plus a margin that is based on the Company’s senior debt credit ratings as published by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. The credit agreement requires that the Company maintain an interest coverage ratio as defined in the agreement. As of January 26, 2008, the Company was in compliance with the required interest coverage ratio and the Company had not borrowed any funds under the credit facility. The Company may also, upon the agreement of either the then existing lenders or of additional lenders not currently parties to the agreement, increase the commitments under the credit facility up to a total of $5.0 billion, and/or extend the expiration date of the credit facility up to August 15, 2014.
 
8.	Commitments and Contingencies	
Operating Leases
The Company leases office space in several U.S. locations. Outside the United States, larger sites include Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Future annual minimum lease payments under all non-cancelable operating leases with an initial term in excess of one year as of January 26, 2008 are as follows (in millions):

Fiscal Year	  	Amount	
2008 (remaining six months)	  	$	166	
2009	  	 	223	
2010	  	 	198	
2011	  	 	161	
2012	  	 	578	
Thereafter	  	 	233	
	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	1,559	
	  	 	 	
Purchase Commitments with Contract Manufacturers and Suppliers
The Company purchases components from a variety of suppliers and uses several contract manufacturers to provide manufacturing services for its products. During the normal course of business, in order to manage manufacturing lead times and help ensure adequate component supply, the Company enters into agreements with contract manufacturers and suppliers that either allow them to procure inventory based upon criteria as defined by the Company or that establish the parameters defining the Company’s requirements. In certain instances, these agreements allow the Company the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust the Company’s requirements based on its business needs prior to firm orders being placed. Consequently, only a portion of the Company’s reported purchase commitments arising from these agreements are firm, non-cancelable, and unconditional commitments. As of January 26, 2008, the Company had total purchase commitments for inventory of $2.7 billion, compared with $2.6 billion as of July 28, 2007.
In addition to the above, the Company records a liability for firm, non-cancelable, and unconditional purchase commitments for quantities in excess of its future demand forecasts consistent with the valuation of the Company’s excess and obsolete inventory. As of January 26, 2008, the liability for these purchase commitments was $156 million, compared with $168 million as of July 28, 2007, and was included in other current liabilities.
Nuova Systems, Inc.
In fiscal 2007, the Company made an investment in Nuova Systems, Inc. (“Nuova”), which conducts research and development on data center-related products. This investment included $50 million of funding and a license to certain of the Company’s technology. As a result of this investment, the Company owns approximately 80% of Nuova and has consolidated the results of Nuova in its Consolidated Financial Statements beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Upon the occurrence of certain events, the Company has committed additional funding of up to $62 million, of which $20 million was funded during the three months ended January 26, 2008.
In connection with this investment, the Company and Nuova have entered into a call option agreement that provides the Company with the right to purchase the remaining interests of approximately 20% in Nuova. If the call option is exercised by the Company, the minority interest holders would be eligible to receive up to three milestone payments based on agreed-upon formulas. The exercise of the call option, if exercised, may occur in the second half of fiscal 2008. The amounts due under the milestone payments would be recognized by the Company as compensation expense when it is determined that the exercise of the call option is probable, which may be in advance of the exercise of the call option.
 
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Compensation expense recorded for each quarter would be based on an estimate of the fair value of the amounts that could be earned by the minority interest holders pursuant to a vesting schedule at the end of each quarter. Subsequent changes to the fair value of the amounts probable of being earned and the continued vesting will result in adjustments to the recorded compensation expense. The potential amounts that could be recorded as compensation expense would be up to a maximum of $678 million and are expected to be paid during fiscal 2010 through fiscal 2012.
Other Commitments
As of January 26, 2008, the Company was party to an agreement to invest approximately $700 million in venture funds managed by SOFTBANK Corp. and its affiliates (“SOFTBANK”) that is required to be funded on demand. As of January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007, the Company had invested $628 million and $616 million, respectively, in the venture funds pursuant to the commitment.
The Company also has certain other funding commitments related to its privately held investments that are based on the achievement of certain agreed-upon milestones. The remaining funding commitments were approximately $94 million as of January 26, 2008, compared with approximately $56 million as of July 28, 2007.
Variable Interest Entities
In the ordinary course of business, the Company has investments in privately held companies and provides financing to certain customers through its wholly owned subsidiaries, which may be considered to be variable interest entities. The Company has evaluated its investments in these privately held companies and customer financings and determined that there were no significant unconsolidated variable interest entities as of January 26, 2008.
Guarantees and Product Warranties
The following table summarizes the activity related to the product warranty liability during the six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007 (in millions):

 	  	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27
2007	 	
Balance at beginning of period	  	$	340	 	 	$	309	 	
Provision for warranties issued	  	 	247	 	 	 	256	 	
Payments	  	 	(233	)	 	 	(236	)	
Fair value of warranty liability acquired	  	 	3	 	 	 	—  	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at end of period	  	$	357	 	 	$	329	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The Company accrues for warranty costs as part of its cost of sales based on associated material product costs, labor costs for technical support staff, and associated overhead. The products sold are generally covered by a warranty for periods ranging from 90 days to five years, and for some products the Company provides a limited lifetime warranty.
The Company provides guarantees for various third party financing arrangements to channel partners and other customers which could be called upon in the event of non-payment to the third party. As of January 26, 2008, the total maximum potential future payments related to these guarantees was approximately $700 million, of which approximately $575 million was recorded as deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with revenue recognition policies and FASB Interpretation No. 45 (“FIN 45”).
In the normal course of business, the Company indemnifies other parties, including customers, lessors, and parties to other transactions with the Company, with respect to certain matters. The Company has agreed to hold the other parties harmless against losses arising from a breach of representations or covenants, or out of intellectual property infringement or other claims made against certain parties. These agreements may limit the time within which an indemnification claim can be made and the amount of the claim. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its officers and directors, and the Company’s bylaws contain similar indemnification obligations to the Company’s agents. It is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount under these indemnification agreements due to the Company’s limited history with prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Historically, payments made by the Company under these agreements have not had a material effect on the Company’s operating results, financial position, or cash flows.
The Company’s remaining arrangements as of January 26, 2008 that were subject to recognition and disclosure requirements under FIN 45 were not material.
 
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Derivative Instruments
The Company uses derivative instruments primarily to manage exposures to foreign currency, interest rate, and equity security price risks. The Company’s primary objective in holding derivatives is to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency, interest rates, and equity security prices. The Company’s derivatives expose it to credit risk to the extent that the counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreement. The Company seeks to mitigate such risks by limiting its counterparties to major financial institutions. In addition, the potential risk of loss with any one counterparty resulting from this type of credit risk is monitored. Management does not  expect material losses as a result of defaults by counterparties.
Foreign Currency Derivatives
The Company’s foreign exchange forward and option contracts are summarized as follows (in millions):

 	  	January 26, 2008	 	 	July 28, 2007	 	
 	  	Notional
Amount	  	Fair
Value	 	 	Notional
Amount	  	Fair
Value	 	
Forward contracts:	  			  				 			  				
Purchased	  	$	1,483	  	$	(3	)	 	$	1,601	  	$	1	 	
Sold	  	$	553	  	$	10	 	 	$	613	  	$	(8	)	
Option contracts:	  			  				 			  				
Purchased	  	$	715	  	$	     24	 	 	$	652	  	$	     24	 	
Sold	  	$	258	  	$	(3	)	 	$	310	  	$	(1	)	
The Company conducts business globally in numerous currencies. As such, it is exposed to adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates. To limit the exposure related to foreign currency changes, the Company enters into foreign currency contracts. The Company does not enter into foreign exchange forward or option contracts for trading purposes.
The Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce the short-term effects of foreign currency fluctuations on foreign currency receivables, investments, and payables. The gains and losses on the foreign exchange forward contracts offset the transaction gains and losses on foreign currency receivables, investments, and payables recognized in earnings. Gains and losses on the contracts are included in other income, net, and offset foreign exchange gains and losses from the revaluation of intercompany balances or other current assets, investments, or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the reporting entity. The Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts related to current assets and liabilities generally range from one to three months in original maturity. Additionally, the Company has entered into foreign exchange forward contracts with maturities of up to two years related to long-term customer financings. The foreign exchange forward contracts related to investments generally have maturities of less than 18 months.
The Company hedges certain foreign currency forecasted transactions related to certain operating expenses with currency options and forward contracts. These transactions are designated as cash flow hedges. The effective portion of the derivative’s gain or loss is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the hedged exposure affects earnings. The ineffective portion, if any, of the gain or loss is reported in earnings immediately. These currency option and forward contracts generally have maturities of less than 18 months.
Interest Rate Derivatives
The Company’s interest rate derivatives are summarized as follows (in millions):

 	  	January 26, 2008	 	 	July 28, 2007	 	
 	  	Notional
Amount	  	Fair
Value	 	 	Notional
Amount	  	Fair
Value	 	
Interest rate swaps, investments	  	$	1,000	  	$	(19	)	 	$	1,000	  	$	29	 	
Interest rate swaps, long-term debt	  	$	6,000	  	$	   361	 	 	$	6,000	  	$	    (81	)	
The Company’s primary objective for holding fixed income securities is to achieve an appropriate investment return consistent with preserving principal and managing risk. To realize these objectives, the Company may utilize interest rate swaps or other derivatives designated as fair value or cash flow hedges.
The Company has entered into $1.0 billion of interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges of its investment portfolio. Under these interest rate swap contracts, the Company makes fixed-rate interest payments and receives interest payments based on LIBOR. The effect of these swaps is to convert fixed-rate returns to floating-rate returns based on LIBOR for a portion of the Company’s fixed income portfolio. The gains and losses related to changes in the value of the interest rate swaps are included in other income, net, and offset the changes in fair value of the underlying hedged investment. The fair values of the interest rate swaps designated as hedges of the Company’s investments are reflected in prepaid expenses and other current assets or other current liabilities.
 
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In conjunction with its issuance of fixed-rate senior notes in February 2006, the Company entered into $6.0 billion of interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges of the fixed-rate debt. Under these interest rate swap contracts, the Company receives fixed-rate interest payments and makes interest payments based on LIBOR. The effect of these swaps is to convert fixed-rate interest expense to floating-rate interest expense based on LIBOR. The gains and losses related to changes in the value of the interest rate swaps are included in other income, net, and offset the changes in fair value of the underlying debt. The fair values of the interest rate swaps designated as hedges of the Company’s long-term debt are reflected in other assets or other long-term liabilities.
Equity Derivatives
The Company’s equity derivatives are summarized as follows (in millions):

 	  	January 26,
2008	  	July 28,
2007	
 	  	Notional
Amount	  	Fair
Value	  	Notional
Amount	  	Fair
Value	
Forward sale agreements	  	$	135	  	$	     21	  	$	458	  	$	       1	
The Company maintains a portfolio of publicly traded equity securities which are subject to price risk. The Company may hold equity securities for strategic purposes or to diversify the Company’s overall investment portfolio. To manage its exposure to changes in the fair value of certain equity securities, the Company may enter into equity derivatives, including forward sale and option agreements. As of January 26, 2008, the Company had entered into forward sale agreements on certain publicly traded equity securities designated as fair value hedges. The gains and losses due to changes in the value of the hedging instruments are included in other income, net, and offset the change in the fair value of the underlying hedged investment. The fair values of the equity derivatives are reflected in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other current liabilities.
Legal Proceedings
The Company and other defendants were subject to claims asserted by Telcordia Technologies, Inc. on July 16, 2004 in the Federal District Court for the District of Delaware alleging that various Cisco routers, switches and optical products infringed United States Patent Nos. 4,893,306, 4,835,763 and Re 36,633. Telcordia sought damages and injunctive relief. The Court ruled that, as a matter of law, the Company does not infringe Patent No. 4,893,306. After conclusion of a trial, on May 10, 2007, a jury found that infringement had occurred on the other patents and awarded damages in an amount that is not material to the Company. The Company has asked the Court to reverse the verdict as a matter of law, and if necessary, the Company intends to appeal the decision. Telcordia has asked the Court to enhance damages and award it attorneys’ fees and also has the right to appeal. The Company believes that the ultimate outcome of this matter and aggregate potential damages will not be material.
Brazilian authorities are investigating certain employees of the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary and certain employees of a Brazilian importer of the Company’s products relating to the allegation of evading import taxes and other alleged improper transactions involving the subsidiary and the importer. The Company is conducting a thorough review of the matter. To date, Brazilian authorities have not asserted a claim against the Company. The Company is unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome on any potential claims against it or to reasonably estimate a range of loss, if any. In addition, the Company is investigating the allegations regarding improper transactions and has proactively communicated with the United States authorities to provide information and report on its findings.
In addition, the Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including intellectual property litigation. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, the Company does not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve these matters will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
 
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9.	Shareholders’ Equity	
Stock Repurchase Program
In September 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program. As of January 26, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors had authorized an aggregate repurchase of up to $62 billion of common stock under this program and the remaining authorized repurchase amount was $11.8 billion with no termination date. The stock repurchase activity under the stock repurchase program during the first six months of fiscal 2008 is summarized as follows (in millions, except per-share amounts):

Six Months Ended January 26, 2008	  	Shares
  Repurchased  	  	Weighted-
Average
Price per Share	  	Amount
Repurchased	
Cumulative balance at July 28, 2007	  	2,228	  	$	19.40	  	$	43,229	
Repurchase of common stock (1)	  	235	  	 	29.74	  	 	7,000	

Cumulative balance at January 26, 2008	  	2,463	  	$	20.39	  	$	        50,229	

(1)	Excludes $100 million of stock repurchases which were transacted in the prior period but settled during fiscal 2008.	
The purchase price for the shares of the Company’s stock repurchased is reflected as a reduction to shareholders’ equity. In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 6, “Status of Accounting Research Bulletins,” the Company is required to allocate the purchase price of the repurchased shares as (i) a reduction to retained earnings until retained earnings are zero and then as an increase to accumulated deficit and (ii) a reduction of common stock and additional paid-in capital. Issuance of common stock and the tax benefit related to employee stock incentive plans are recorded as an increase to common stock and additional paid-in capital.
Other Repurchases of Common Stock
The Company also repurchases shares in settlement of employee tax withholding obligations due upon the vesting of restricted stock or stock units.
Comprehensive Income
The components of comprehensive income are as follows (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Net income	  	$	2,060	 	 	$	1,921	  	$	4,265	 	 	$	3,529	 	
Other comprehensive income:	  				 			  				 				
Change in unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of tax	  	 	(181	)	 	 	30	  	 	539	 	 	 	109	 	
Other (1)	  	 	2	 	 	 	41	  	 	82	 	 	 	41	 	

Comprehensive income before minority interest	  	 	1,881	 	 	 	1,992	  	 	4,886	 	 	 	3,679	 	
Change in minority interest (2)	  	 	50	 	 	 	6	  	 	(71	)	 	 	(2	)	

Total	  	$	1,931	 	 	$	1,998	  	$	4,815	 	 	$	3,677	 	

(1)	Includes primarily comprehensive income related to currency translation and derivative instruments.	

(2)	The Company consolidates its investment in a venture fund managed by SOFTBANK as it is the primary beneficiary as defined under FIN 46(R). As a result, SOFTBANK’s interest in the change in the unrealized gains and losses on the investments in the venture fund is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, and is reflected as a change in minority interest.	
 
10.	Employee Benefit Plans	
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which includes its sub-plan, the International Employee Stock Purchase Plan (together, the “Purchase Plan”), under which 321.4 million shares of the Company’s stock have been reserved for issuance. Eligible employees may purchase a limited number of shares of the Company’s stock at a discount of up to 15% of the lesser of the market value on the subscription date or the purchase date, which is approximately six months after the subscription date. The Purchase Plan
 
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terminates on January 3, 2010. The Company issued 9 million shares under the Purchase Plan during the six months ended January 26, 2008, and 10 million shares under the Purchase Plan during the six months ended January 27, 2007. As of January 26, 2008, 73 million shares were available for issuance under the Purchase Plan.
Employee Stock Incentive Plans
Stock Incentive Plan Program Description
As of July 28, 2007, the Company had five stock incentive plans: the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”), the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1996 Plan”), the 1997 Supplemental Stock Incentive Plan (the “Supplemental Plan”), the Cisco Systems, Inc. SA Acquisition Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “SA Acquisition Plan”), and the Cisco Systems, Inc. WebEx Acquisition Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “WebEx Acquisition Plan”). In addition, the Company has, in connection with the acquisitions of various companies, assumed the stock incentive plans of the acquired companies or issued replacement share-based awards. Share-based awards are designed to reward employees for their long-term contributions to the Company and provide incentives for them to remain with the Company. The number and frequency of share-based awards are based on competitive practices, operating results of the Company, and government regulations. Since the inception of the stock incentive plans, the Company has granted stock options to virtually all employees, and the majority has been granted to employees below the vice president level. The Company’s primary stock incentive plans are summarized as follows:
2005 Plan
As amended on November 15, 2007, the maximum number of shares issuable under the 2005 Plan over its term is 559 million shares plus the amount of any shares underlying awards outstanding on November 15, 2007 under the 1996 Plan, the SA Acquisition Plan and the WebEx Acquisition Plan that are forfeited or are terminated for any other reason before being exercised or settled. This maximum number will be reduced by a ratio of 2.5 shares for each share awarded as stock grants or stock units. The 2005 Plan permits the granting of stock options, stock, stock units, and stock appreciation rights to employees (including employee directors and officers) and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and non-employee directors of the Company. Stock options granted under the 2005 Plan have an exercise price of at least 100% of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date and expire no later than nine years from the grant date. The stock options will generally become exercisable for 20% of the option shares one year from the date of grant and then ratably over the following 48 months. Stock grants and stock units will generally vest with respect to 20% of the shares covered by the grant on each of the first through fifth anniversaries of the date of the grant. The Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors has the discretion to use different vesting schedules. Stock appreciation rights may be awarded in combination with stock options or stock grants and such awards shall provide that the stock appreciation rights will not be exercisable unless the related stock options or stock grants are forfeited. Stock grants may be awarded in combination with non-statutory stock options, and such awards may provide that the stock grants will be forfeited in the event that the related non-statutory stock options are exercised.
1996 Plan
The 1996 Plan expired on December 31, 2006, and the Company can no longer make equity awards under the 1996 Plan. The maximum number of shares issuable over the term of the 1996 Plan was 2.5 billion shares. Stock options granted under the 1996 Plan have an exercise price of at least 100% of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date and expire no later than nine years from the grant date. The stock options generally become exercisable for 20% or 25% of the option shares one year from the date of grant and then ratably over the following 48 or 36 months, respectively. Certain other grants have utilized a 60-month ratable vesting schedule. In addition, the Board of Directors, or other committees administering the plan, have the discretion to use a different vesting schedule and have done so from time to time.
Supplemental Plan
The Supplemental Plan expired on December 31, 2007 and the Company can no longer make equity awards under the Supplemental Plan. Officers and members of the Company’s Board of Directors were not eligible to participate in the Supplemental Plan. Nine million shares were reserved for issuance under the Supplemental Plan.
Acquisition Plans
In connection with the Company’s acquisitions of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (“Scientific-Atlanta”) and WebEx Communications, Inc. (“WebEx”), the Company adopted the SA Acquisition Plan and the WebEx Acquisition Plan, respectively, each effective upon completion of the applicable acquisition. These plans constitute assumptions, amendments, restatements, and renamings of the 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan of Scientific-Atlanta and the WebEx Communications, Inc. Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, respectively. The plans permit the grant of stock options, stock, stock units, and stock appreciation rights to certain employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates who had been employed by Scientific-Atlanta or its subsidiaries or WebEx or its subsidiaries, as applicable. As a result of the shareholder approval of the amendment and extension of the 2005 Plan, as of November 15, 2007, the Company will no longer make stock option grants or direct share issuances under either the SA Acquisition Plan or the WebEx Acquisition Plan.
 
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Dilutive Effect of Stock Options
Weighted-average basic and diluted shares outstanding for the six months ended January 26, 2008 were 6.0 billion shares and 6.3 billion shares, respectively. For the six months ended January 26, 2008, the dilutive effect of in-the-money employee stock options was approximately 222 million shares or 3.7% of the basic shares outstanding based on the Company’s average share price of $29.86.
The following table illustrates grant dilution computed based on net options granted as a percentage of shares of common stock outstanding at period end (in millions, except percentages):

 	  	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Shares of common stock outstanding	  	5,975	 	 	6,048	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	
Granted and assumed	  	143	 	 	164	 	
Canceled/forfeited/expired	  	(31	)	 	(28	)	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	
Net stock options granted	  	112	 	 	136	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	
Grant dilution	  	1.9	%	 	2.2	%	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	
General Share-Based Award Information 
A summary of share-based award activity is as follows (in millions, except per-share amounts):

 	  	 	 	 	STOCK OPTIONS OUTSTANDING	
 	  	Share-Based
Awards
Available
for Grant	 	 	Number
Outstanding	 	 	Weighted-
Average
    Exercise Price    
per Share	
BALANCE AT JULY 29, 2006	  	                      464	 	 	1,446	 	 	$	25.08	
Granted and assumed	  	(206	)	 	206	 	 	 	23.32	
Exercised	  	—  	 	 	(309	)	 	 	16.00	
Canceled/forfeited/expired	  	19	 	 	(54	)	 	 	34.04	
Restricted stock and other share-based awards, excluding stock options	  	(7	)	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	
Additional shares reserved	  	24	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 			
BALANCE AT JULY 28, 2007	  	294	 	 	1,289	 	 	$	26.60	
Granted and assumed	  	(143	)	 	143	 	 	 	31.90	
Exercised (1)	  	—  	 	 	(102	)	 	 	19.29	
Canceled/forfeited/expired	  	7	 	 	(31	)	 	 	35.84	
Restricted stock and other share-based awards, excluding stock options  (2)	  	(11	)	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	
Additional shares reserved	  	211	 	 	—  	 	 	 	—  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 			
BALANCE AT JANUARY 26, 2008	  	358	 	 	1,299	 	 	$	27.54	

(1)	The total pretax intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the six months ended January 26, 2008 was $1.2 billion.	

(2 )	Amounts represent restricted stock and other share-based awards granted and assumed. The Company had total shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units outstanding of 15 million and 11 million as of January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007, respectively. Share-based awards available for grant are reduced by a ratio of 2.5 shares for each share awarded as stock grants or pursuant to stock units from the 2005 Plan subsequent to November 15, 2007.	
 
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The following table summarizes significant ranges of outstanding and exercisable options as of January 26, 2008 (in millions, except years and per-share amounts):

 	  	STOCK OPTIONS OUTSTANDING	  	STOCK OPTIONS EXERCISABLE	
Range of Exercise Prices	  	Number
Outstanding	  	Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(in Years)	  	Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price per
Share	  	Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value	  	Number
Exercisable	  	Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price per
Share	  	Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value	
$  0.01 –  15.00	  	104	  	4.14	  	$	11.10	  	$	1,369	  	89	  	$	11.18	  	$	1,133	
  15.01 –  18.00	  	205	  	5.42	  	 	17.28	  	 	1,418	  	121	  	 	16.91	  	 	878	
  18.01 –  20.00	  	274	  	5.03	  	 	19.22	  	 	1,365	  	187	  	 	19.21	  	 	932	
  20.01 –  25.00	  	226	  	6.37	  	 	22.41	  	 	405	  	101	  	 	21.96	  	 	227	
  25.01 –  30.00	  	92	  	3.68	  	 	26.96	  	 	—  	  	57	  	 	26.93	  	 	—  	
  30.01 –  35.00	  	138	  	8.23	  	 	32.16	  	 	—  	  	7	  	 	32.22	  	 	—  	
  35.01 –  50.00	  	24	  	1.21	  	 	40.03	  	 	—  	  	24	  	 	40.03	  	 	—  	
  50.01 –  72.56	  	236	  	1.41	  	 	54.49	  	 	—  	  	236	  	 	54.49	  	 	—  	
	  	 	  		  			  	 	 	  	 	  			  	 	 	
Total	  	1,299	  	4.77	  	$	      27.54	  	$	      4,557	  	822	  	$	      29.72	  	$	      3,170	
	  	 	  		  			  	 	 	  	 	  			  	 	 	
The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the total pretax intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $24.20 as of January 25, 2008, which would have been received by the option holders had those option holders exercised their options as of that date. The total number of in-the-money stock options exercisable as of January 26, 2008 was 495 million. As of July 28, 2007, 829 million outstanding stock options were exercisable and the weighted-average exercise price was $30.13.
Valuation and Expense Information Under SFAS 123(R)
Share-based compensation expense recognized under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”, (“SFAS 123(R)”) consists primarily of expenses for employee stock options, employee stock purchase rights, employee restricted stock and employee restricted stock units. The following table summarizes share-based compensation expense as follows (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	
Cost of sales—product	  	$	11	  	$	12	  	$	20	  	$	23	
Cost of sales—service	  	 	30	  	 	30	  	 	53	  	 	54	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Employee share-based compensation expense in cost of sales	  	 	41	  	 	42	  	 	73	  	 	77	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Research and development	  	 	81	  	 	74	  	 	146	  	 	148	
Sales and marketing	  	 	111	  	 	99	  	 	210	  	 	193	
General and administrative	  	 	40	  	 	32	  	 	70	  	 	54	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Employee share-based compensation expense in operating expenses	  	 	232	  	 	205	  	 	426	  	 	395	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total employee share-based compensation expense (1)(2) (3)	  	$	273	  	$	247	  	$	499	  	$	472	

(1)	As of January 26, 2008, total compensation cost related to unvested share-based awards including share-based compensation relating to acquisitions and investments, not yet recognized was $3.9 billion, which is expected to be recognized over approximately 4 years on a weighted-average basis.	

(2)	Share-based compensation expense of $21 million and $45 million related to acquisitions and investments for the three and six months ended January 26, 2008, respectively, and $9 million and $19 million for the three and six months ended January 27, 2007, respectively, is disclosed in Note 3 and is not included in the above table.	

(3)	The income tax benefit for share-based compensation expense was $86 million and $160 million for the three and six months ended January 26, 2008, respectively, and $105 million and $163 million for the three and six months ended January 27, 2007, respectively.	
Lattice-Binomial Model
Upon adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company began estimating the value of employee stock options and employee stock purchase rights on the date of grant using a lattice-binomial model. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), the value of each employee stock option and employee stock purchase right was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model.
 
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The Company’s employee stock options have various restrictions including vesting provisions and restrictions on transfer and hedging, among others, and are often exercised prior to their contractual maturity. Lattice-binomial models are more capable of incorporating the features of the Company’s employee stock options than closed-form models such as the Black-Scholes model. The use of a lattice-binomial model requires extensive actual employee exercise behavior data and a number of complex assumptions including expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected dividends, kurtosis, and skewness.
The weighted-average assumptions, using the lattice-binomial model, the weighted-average expected life and estimated value of employee stock options are summarized as follows:

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Employee stock options:	  				 				 				 				
Expected volatility	  	 	34.7	%	 	 	24.5	%	 	 	30.8	%	 	 	25.8	%	
Risk-free interest rate	  	 	3.8	%	 	 	4.6	%	 	 	4.4	%	 	 	4.6	%	
Expected dividend	  	 	0.0	%	 	 	0.0	%	 	 	0.0	%	 	 	0.0	%	
Kurtosis	  	 	4.6	 	 	 	4.6	 	 	 	4.6	 	 	 	4.5	 	
Skewness	  	 	(0.79	)	 	 	(0.80	)	 	 	(0.80	)	 	 	(0.80	)	
					
Weighted-average expected life (in years)	  	 	6.3	 	 	 	6.7	 	 	 	6.3	 	 	 	6.7	 	
Weighted-average estimated value (per option share)	  	$	9.00	 	 	$	7.93	 	 	$	9.87	 	 	$	6.94	 	
The weighted-average assumptions, using the lattice-binomial model, the weighted-average expected life and estimated value of employee stock purchase rights with subscription dates in the indicated periods are summarized as follows:

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Employee stock purchase rights:	  				 				 				 				
Expected volatility	  	 	33.0	%	 	 	26.2	%	 	 	33.0	%	 	 	26.2	%	
Risk-free interest rate	  	 	3.3	%	 	 	5.1	%	 	 	3.3	%	 	 	5.1	%	
Expected dividend	  	 	0.0	%	 	 	0.0	%	 	 	0.0	%	 	 	0.0	%	
					
Weighted-average expected life (in years)	  	 	0.5	 	 	 	0.5	 	 	 	0.5	 	 	 	0.5	 	
Weighted-average estimated value (per share)	  	$	6.58	 	 	$	6.45	 	 	$	6.58	 	 	$	6.45	 	
The determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is impacted by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. The weighted-average assumptions were determined as follows:
 
 	•	 	For employee stock options, the Company used the implied volatility for two-year traded options on the Company’s stock as the expected volatility assumption required in the lattice-binomial model, consistent with SFAS 123(R) and Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”). For employee stock purchase rights, the Company used the implied volatility for six-month traded options on the Company’s stock. The selection of the implied volatility approach was based upon the availability of actively traded options on the Company’s stock and the Company’s assessment that implied volatility is more representative of future stock price trends than historical volatility.	
 
 	•	 	The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates appropriate for the term of the Company’s employee stock options and employee stock purchase rights.	
 
 	•	 	The dividend yield assumption is based on the history and expectation of dividend payouts.	
 
 	•	 	The estimated kurtosis and skewness are technical measures of the distribution of stock price returns, which affect expected employee exercise behaviors that are based on the Company’s stock price return history as well as consideration of various academic analyses.	
 
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The expected life of employee stock options represents the weighted-average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding and is a derived output of the lattice-binomial model. The expected life of employee stock options is impacted by all of the underlying assumptions and calibration of the Company’s model. The lattice-binomial model assumes that employees’ exercise behavior is a function of the option’s remaining vested life and the extent to which the option is in-the-money. The lattice-binomial model estimates the probability of exercise as a function of these two variables based on the entire history of exercises and cancellations on all past option grants made by the Company.
Accuracy of Fair Value Estimates
The Company uses third-party analyses to assist in developing the assumptions used in, as well as calibrating, its lattice-binomial model. The Company is responsible for determining the assumptions used in estimating the fair value of its share-based payment awards.
The Company’s determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards is affected by assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, the Company’s expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors. Option-pricing models were developed for use in estimating the value of traded options that have no vesting or hedging restrictions and are fully transferable. Because the Company’s employee stock options have certain characteristics that are significantly different from traded options, and because changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimated value, in management’s opinion, the existing valuation models may not provide an accurate measure of the fair value of the Company’s employee stock options. Although the fair value of employee stock options is determined in accordance with SFAS 123(R) and SAB 107 using an option-pricing model, that value may not be indicative of the fair value observed in a willing buyer/willing seller market transaction.
 
11.	Income Taxes	
The following table provides details of income taxes (in millions, except percentages):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Effective tax rate	  	 	21.9	%	 	 	17.7	%	 	 	18.9	%	 	 	21.8	%	
Cash paid for income taxes	  	$	888	 	 	$	487	 	 	$	1,402	 	 	$	959	 	
On July 29, 2007, the Company adopted FIN 48 which prescribes a comprehensive model for the financial statement recognition, measurement, classification and disclosure of uncertain tax positions. As a result of the adoption of FIN 48, the Company reduced the liability for net unrecognized tax benefits by $451 million, and accounted for this as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle that was recorded as an increase to retained earnings of $202 million and an increase to additional paid-in capital of $249 million. The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits as of the date of adoption was $3.3 billion, of which $2.9 billion would affect the effective tax rate if realized. The Company historically classified liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in current income taxes payable. In implementing FIN 48, the Company has reclassified liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits for which the Company does not anticipate payment or receipt of cash within one year to long-term income taxes payable. In addition, the Company reclassified the income tax receivable to income taxes payable.
In connection with the regular examination of the Company’s federal income tax returns for fiscal years ended July 27, 2002 through July 31, 2004, the IRS proposed certain adjustments related to the Company’s international operations. In the first quarter of fiscal 2008, the Company and the IRS agreed to a settlement with respect to certain tax issues related to U.S. income inclusions arising from the Company’s international operations for fiscal years ended July 27, 2002 through July 29, 2006. As a result of the settlement, the Company reduced income taxes payable and recorded a net tax benefit of $162 million including related interest in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. The Company’s federal income tax returns for fiscal years ended July 27, 2002 and July 31, 2004 continue to be under examination and the IRS has proposed other adjustments which are not covered under the settlement agreement. The Company believes that adequate amounts have been reserved for any adjustments which may ultimately result from these examinations. With limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state and local or foreign income tax audits through fiscal year 1997. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax audit through fiscal 2001.
As a result of the settlement of certain tax matters with the IRS during the first quarter of fiscal 2008, the amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was reduced by approximately $1.0 billion. The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $2.3 billion as of January 26, 2008, of which $1.9 billion would affect the effective tax rate if realized. The Company’s policy to include interest and penalties related to income taxes, including unrecognized tax benefits, within the provision for income taxes did not change as a result of implementing FIN 48. As of the date of adoption of FIN 48, the Company had accrued $183 million in income taxes payable for the payment of interest and penalties. As a result of the IRS settlement, the Company reduced the amount of accrued interest by $39 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. Although timing of the resolution of audits is highly uncertain, the Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change in the next 12 months.
 
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In December 2006, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 retroactively reinstated the U.S. federal R&D tax credit, which was made available for R&D expenses incurred beginning after December 31, 2005 and before January 1, 2008. As a result, the tax provision rate for the three and six months ended January 27, 2007 included the effect of a tax benefit related to the reinstatement of the U.S. federal R&D tax credit which was attributable to R&D expenses incurred after December 31, 2005 through January 27, 2007, of which a tax benefit of $60 million related to fiscal 2006 R&D expenses. In addition, the tax provision rate for the three and six months ended January 26, 2008 included a benefit related to the U.S. federal R&D tax credit which was attributable to R&D expenses incurred from July 29, 2007 through December 31, 2007, as applicable.
 
12.	Segment Information and Major Customers	
The Company’s operations involve the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and technical support of networking and other products and services related to the communications and information technology industry. Cisco products include routers, switches, advanced technologies, and other products. These products, primarily integrated by Cisco IOS Software, link geographically dispersed local-area networks (LANs) and wide-area networks (WANs).
The Company conducts business globally and is primarily managed on a geographic basis. The Company’s management makes financial decisions and allocates resources based on the information it receives from its internal management system. Sales are attributed to a geographic theater based on the ordering location of the customer. During the first quarter of fiscal 2008, the Company enhanced its methodology for attributing certain revenue transactions including revenue deferrals, and the associated cost of sales, to each geographic theater and revised the information utilized by the Company’s chief operating decision maker (CODM). As a result, the Company has reclassified prior period net sales and gross margin amounts by theater to conform to the current period’s presentation.
The Company does not allocate research and development, sales and marketing, or general and administrative expenses to its geographic theaters in this internal management system because management does not use the information to measure the performance of the operating segments. In addition, the Company does not allocate amortization of purchased intangible assets, share-based compensation expense, and the effects of purchase accounting adjustments to inventory to the gross margin for each theater because management also does not use the information to measure the performance of the operating segments.
Summarized financial information by theater for three and six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007 based on the Company’s internal management system and as utilized by the CODM, is as follows (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Net sales:	  				 				 				 				
United States and Canada (1)	  	$	5,247	 	 	$	4,608	 	 	$	10,746	 	 	$	9,297	 	
European Markets	  	 	1,983	 	 	 	1,843	 	 	 	3,889	 	 	 	3,471	 	
Emerging Markets	  	 	1,225	 	 	 	803	 	 	 	2,092	 	 	 	1,531	 	
Asia Pacific	  	 	1,048	 	 	 	881	 	 	 	2,025	 	 	 	1,668	 	
Japan	  	 	328	 	 	 	304	 	 	 	633	 	 	 	656	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	9,831	 	 	$	8,439	 	 	$	19,385	 	 	$	16,623	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross margin:	  				 				 				 				
United States and Canada	  	$	3,468	 	 	$	2,971	 	 	$	7,141	 	 	$	5,988	 	
European Markets	  	 	1,301	 	 	 	1,202	 	 	 	2,545	 	 	 	2,290	 	
Emerging Markets	  	 	763	 	 	 	510	 	 	 	1,258	 	 	 	980	 	
Asia Pacific	  	 	679	 	 	 	573	 	 	 	1,315	 	 	 	1,062	 	
Japan	  	 	231	 	 	 	210	 	 	 	449	 	 	 	450	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Theater total	  	 	6,442	 	 	 	5,466	 	 	 	12,708	 	 	 	10,770	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Unallocated corporate items (2)	  	 	(102	)	 	 	(78	)	 	 	(195	)	 	 	(149	)	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	6,340	 	 	$	5,388	 	 	$	12,513	 	 	$	10,621	 	

(1)	Net sales in the United States were $5.0 billion and $4.4 billion for the three months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007, respectively. Net sales in the United States were $10.2 billion and $8.8 billion for the six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007, respectively.	

(2)	The unallocated corporate items for the three and six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007 include the effects of amortization of purchased intangible assets and share-based compensation expense.	
 
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The following table presents net sales for groups of similar products and services (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	
Net sales:	  			  			  			  			
Routers	  	$	1,969	  	$	1,674	  	$	3,853	  	$	3,269	
Switches	  	 	3,349	  	 	3,013	  	 	6,629	  	 	6,043	
Advanced technologies	  	 	2,404	  	 	1,930	  	 	4,763	  	 	3,790	
Other	  	 	523	  	 	482	  	 	1,015	  	 	937	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Product	  	 	8,245	  	 	7,099	  	 	16,260	  	 	14,039	
Service	  	 	1,586	  	 	1,340	  	 	3,125	  	 	2,584	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	9,831	  	$	8,439	  	$	19,385	  	$	16,623	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
The Company refers to some of its products and technologies as advanced technologies. As of January 26, 2008, the Company had identified the following advanced technologies for particular focus: application networking services, home networking, security, storage area networking, unified communications, video systems, and wireless technology. The Company continues to identify additional advanced technologies for focus and investment in the future, and the Company’s investments in some previously identified advanced technologies may be curtailed or eliminated depending on market developments.
The majority of the Company’s assets as of January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007 were attributable to its U.S. operations. For the three and six months ended January 26, 2008 and January 27, 2007, no single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s net sales.
Property and equipment information is based on the physical location of the assets. The following table presents property and equipment information for geographic areas (in millions):

 	  	January 26,
2008	  	   July 28,   
2007	
Property and equipment, net:	  			  			
United States	  	$	3,379	  	$	3,340	
International	  	 	594	  	 	553	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	3,973	  	$	3,893	

13.	Net Income per Share	
The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share (in millions, except per-share amounts):

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	
Net income	  	$	2,060	  	$	1,921	  	$	4,265	  	$	3,529	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Weighted-average shares — basic	  	 	6,010	  	 	6,057	  	 	6,049	  	 	6,060	
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	  	 	192	  	 	234	  	 	224	  	 	195	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Weighted-average shares — diluted	  	 	6,202	  	 	6,291	  	 	6,273	  	 	6,255	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Net income per share — basic	  	$	0.34	  	$	0.32	  	$	0.71	  	$	0.58	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Net income per share — diluted	  	$	0.33	  	$	0.31	  	$	0.68	  	$	0.56	

Antidilutive employee stock options	  	 	456	  	 	475	  	 	397	  	 	537	
 
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 Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industries in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “continues,” “may,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in our businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those identified below, under “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere herein. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Overview
Our results for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 reflected increases in net sales, net income, and net income per diluted share from the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007, as we continued to achieve balance in year-over-year revenue growth from our four largest geographic theaters, our customer markets, and our products and services. We believe this balance is attributable in part to the successful implementation of our strategy. Net income increased by 7% and 21% during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively, compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007, while net income per diluted share increased by 6% and 21% during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively, compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007. Our results for the first six months of fiscal 2008 included a net tax benefit of $162 million from a settlement of certain U.S. income tax matters which was recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. Our results for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2007 included a tax benefit of $60 million from the reinstatement of the U.S. federal R&D tax credit relating to fiscal 2006 R&D expenses.
We observed a slower growth rate in our business during the latter part of the second quarter of fiscal 2008 and as we enter the second half of fiscal 2008, we see potentially unfavorable economic and market conditions that could result in reduced levels of information technology-related capital spending. These conditions could in turn adversely affect our operating results. However, we believe that our strategy and our ability to execute may enable us to improve our relative competitive position in difficult business conditions and may continue to provide long-term growth opportunities.
Revenue
Net sales increased by 16.5% and 16.6% during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively, compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007. Revenue increased in our four largest geographic theaters, and also increased in the service provider, commercial, and enterprise markets, in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007. We experienced improvement in the enterprise market in the United States during the second quarter of fiscal 2008, after some weakness within this market during the first quarter of fiscal 2008, compared with the corresponding periods in fiscal 2007. For our European Markets theater, the service provider market experienced weakness during the second quarter of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding period in fiscal 2007; however, for the first quarter fiscal 2008 compared with the first quarter of 2007, the net sales for the service provider market in our European Markets theater increased. We experienced a significant increase in revenue for the Emerging Markets theater during the second quarter of fiscal 2008 compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2007, due to higher shipments and recognition of previously deferred revenue. Net sales for the Emerging Markets theater may fluctuate in future periods due to the impact of revenue recognition-related factors.
The increase in our revenue also reflects balance across our products and services. The largest proportion of the increase in net product sales during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 was related to higher sales of advanced technologies. Sales of our advanced technologies, which represented a larger proportion of our net product sales than routing, increased by approximately 25% and 26% during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively, due to strength in sales of our unified communications, video systems and storage products. The increase in our sales of advanced technologies reflects our balanced product portfolio and our efforts to constantly evolve into new markets and product adjacencies.
In the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, we also experienced strength in sales of our routing products, led primarily by our high-end routers. The increase in switching revenue during both periods was led by higher sales of our fixed-configuration and
 
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modular switches. We also have been focused on expanding our service model. In the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, our net service revenue increased by approximately 18% and 21%, respectively, compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007. Our service and support strategy seeks to capitalize on increased globalization, and we believe this strategy, along with our architectural approach, has the potential to further differentiate us from competitors.
Operating Margin
In the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, our gross margin percentage increased when compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007. The increase was primarily due to lower manufacturing costs and higher shipment volume, partially offset by higher sales discounts, rebates, and product pricing. Operating expenses during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 increased in both absolute dollars and as a percentage of revenue as compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007, primarily due to continued investments in headcount. In addition, unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates increased our operating expenses.
Other Financial Highlights
During the first six months of fiscal 2008, we generated cash flows from operations of $5.5 billion. Our cash and cash equivalents and investments were $22.7 billion at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2008, compared with $22.3 billion at the end of fiscal 2007. We repurchased 235 million shares of our common stock during the first six months of 2008 for $7.0 billion. Days sales outstanding in accounts receivable (DSO) at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2008 increased to 39 days, compared with 38 days at the end of fiscal 2007. Our inventory balance was $1.3 billion at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2008 and at the end of fiscal 2007. Annualized inventory turns were 10.8 in the second quarter of fiscal 2008, compared with 10.3 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. Our purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers were $2.7 billion at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2008, compared with $2.6 billion at the end of fiscal 2007.
Focus Areas
We believe our growth was attributable to the continued deployment by customers of our end-to-end architecture and the convergence of data, voice, video, and mobility into IP networks, together with our differentiated strategy and execution. In addition, our balance across product areas, customer markets and geographic segments contributed to our growth and strong financial position. We believe that video applications, including IPTV, Cisco TelePresence, unified communications, physical security and other video products, have the potential to accelerate the growth of bandwidth demands and to increase loads on networks, which may require upgrades to existing networks.
The investments we have made and our architectural approach are based on the belief that collaboration and “Web 2.0,” the network technologies that enable user collaboration, including such technologies as unified communications and Cisco TelePresence, and the increased use of the network as the platform for all forms of communications and information technology will create new market opportunities for us. As part of the second major phase of the Internet, we believe the industry is evolving as both personal and business process collaboration enabled by networked Web 2.0 technologies help to increase innovation and productivity. We will endeavor to lead this market transition from products to processes and through internal adoption and utilization.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 28, 2007 describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The accounting policies described below are significantly affected by critical accounting estimates. Such accounting policies require significant judgments, assumptions, and estimates used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and actual results could differ materially from the amounts reported based on these policies.
Revenue Recognition
Our products are generally integrated with software that is essential to the functionality of the equipment. Additionally, we provide unspecified software upgrades and enhancements related to the equipment through our maintenance contracts for most of our products. Accordingly, we account for revenue in accordance with Statement of Position No. 97-2, “Software Revenue Recognition,” and all related interpretations. For sales of products where software is incidental to the equipment, or in hosting arrangements, we
 
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apply the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, “Revenue Recognition,” and all related interpretations. Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured. In instances where final acceptance of the product, system, or solution is specified by the customer, revenue is deferred until all acceptance criteria have been met.
Contracts, Internet commerce agreements, and customer purchase orders are generally used to determine the existence of an arrangement. Shipping documents and customer acceptance, when applicable, are used to verify delivery. We assess whether the fee is fixed or determinable based on the payment terms associated with the transaction and whether the sales price is subject to refund or adjustment. We assess collectibility based primarily on the creditworthiness of the customer as determined by credit checks and analysis, as well as the customer’s payment history. When a sale involves multiple elements, such as sales of products that include services, the entire fee from the arrangement is allocated to each respective element based on its relative fair value and recognized when revenue recognition criteria for each element are met. The amount of product and service revenue recognized is affected by our judgment as to whether an arrangement includes multiple elements and, if so, whether vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value exists. Changes to the elements in an arrangement and our ability to establish vendor-specific objective evidence for those elements could affect the timing of the revenue recognition. Revenue deferrals relate to the timing of revenue recognition for specific transactions based on financing arrangements, service, support, and other factors. Financing arrangements may include sales-type and operating leases, loans, and guarantees of third-party financing. Our total deferred revenue for products was $2.7 billion and $2.2 billion as of January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007, respectively. Technical support services revenue is deferred and recognized ratably over the period during which the services are to be performed, which is typically from one to three years. Advanced services revenue is recognized upon delivery or completion of performance. Our total deferred revenue for services was $5.3 billion and $4.8 billion as of January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007, respectively.
We make sales to distributors and retail partners and recognize revenue based on a sell-through method using information provided by them. Our distributors and retail partners participate in various cooperative marketing and other programs, and we maintain estimated accruals and allowances for these programs. If actual credits received by our distributors and retail partners for these programs were to deviate significantly from our estimates, which are based on historical experience, our revenue could be adversely affected.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Sales Returns
Our accounts receivable balance, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, was $4.2 billion and $4.0 billion as of January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007, respectively. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $185 million, or 4.3% of the gross accounts receivable balance, as of January 26, 2008, and $166 million, or 4.0% of the gross accounts receivable balance, as of July 28, 2007. The allowance is based on our assessment of the collectibility of customer accounts. We regularly review the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay.
Our provision for doubtful accounts was $29 million for the first six months of fiscal 2008 and we had no provision for doubtful accounts for the first six months of fiscal 2007. If a major customer’s creditworthiness deteriorates, or if actual defaults are higher than our historical experience, or if other circumstances arise, our estimates of the recoverability of amounts due to us could be overstated, and additional allowances could be required, which could have an adverse impact on our revenue.
A reserve for future sales returns is established based on historical trends in product return rates. The reserve for future sales returns as of January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007 was $79 million and $74 million, respectively, and was recorded as a reduction of our accounts receivable. If the actual future returns were to deviate from the historical data on which the reserve had been established, our revenue could be adversely affected.
Inventory Valuation and Liability for Purchase Commitments with Contract Manufacturers and Suppliers
Our inventory balance was $1.3 billion as of January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007. Inventory is written down based on excess and obsolete inventories determined primarily by future demand forecasts. Inventory write-downs are measured as the difference between the cost of the inventory and market based upon assumptions about future demand, and are charged to the provision for inventory, which is a component of our cost of sales. At the point of the loss recognition, a new, lower cost basis for that inventory is established, and subsequent changes in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis.
In addition, we record a liability for firm, non-cancelable, and unconditional purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers for quantities in excess of our future demand forecasts consistent with the valuation of our excess and obsolete inventory. As of January 26, 2008, the liability for these purchase commitments was $156 million, compared with $168 million as of July 28, 2007, and was included in other current liabilities.
 
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Our provision for inventory was $70 million and $116 million for the first six months of fiscal 2008 and 2007, respectively. The provision for the liability related to purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers was not material for the first six months of fiscal 2008 or fiscal 2007. If there were to be a sudden and significant decrease in demand for our products, or if there were a higher incidence of inventory obsolescence because of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements, we could be required to increase our inventory write-downs and our liability for purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers, and our gross margin could be adversely affected. Inventory and supply chain management remain areas of focus as we balance the need to maintain supply chain flexibility to help ensure competitive lead times with the risk of inventory obsolescence.
Warranty Costs
The liability for product warranties, included in other current liabilities, was $357 million as of January 26, 2008, compared with $340 million as of July 28, 2007. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Our products are generally covered by a warranty for periods ranging from 90 days to five years, and for some products we provide a limited lifetime warranty. We accrue for warranty costs as part of our cost of sales based on associated material costs, technical support labor costs, and associated overhead. Material cost is estimated based primarily upon historical trends in the volume of product returns within the warranty period and the cost to repair or replace the equipment. Technical support labor cost is estimated based primarily upon historical trends in the rate of customer cases and the cost to support the customer cases within the warranty period. Overhead cost is applied based on estimated time to support warranty activities.
The provision for product warranties issued during the first six months of fiscal 2008 and 2007 was $247 million and $256 million, respectively. If we experience an increase in warranty claims compared with our historical experience, or if the cost of servicing warranty claims is greater than expected, our gross margin could be adversely affected.
Share-Based Compensation Expense
Share-based compensation expense recognized under SFAS 123(R) was as follows (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	
Employee share-based compensation expense	  	$	273	  	$	247	  	$	499	  	$	472	
Share-based compensation expense related to acquisitions and investments	  	 	21	  	 	9	  	 	45	  	 	19	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	294	  	$	256	  	$	544	  	$	491	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Upon adoption of SFAS 123(R), we began estimating the value of employee stock options on the date of grant using a lattice-binomial model. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), the value of each employee stock option was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. The determination of fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, the expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors. The use of a lattice-binomial model requires extensive actual employee exercise behavior data and a number of complex assumptions including expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected dividends, kurtosis, and skewness. The weighted-average assumptions, using the lattice-binomial model and the weighted-average estimated value of employee stock options are summarized as follows:

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Weighted-average assumptions:	  				 				 				 				
Expected volatility	  	 	34.7	%	 	 	24.5	%	 	 	30.8	%	 	 	25.8	%	
Risk-free interest rate	  	 	3.8	%	 	 	4.6	%	 	 	4.4	%	 	 	4.6	%	
Expected dividend	  	 	0.0	%	 	 	0.0	%	 	 	0.0	%	 	 	0.0	%	
Kurtosis	  	 	4.6	 	 	 	4.6	 	 	 	4.6	 	 	 	4.5	 	
Skewness	  	 	(0.79	)	 	 	(0.80	)	 	 	(0.80	)	 	 	(0.80	)	
					
Weighted-average expected life (in years)	  	 	6.3	 	 	 	6.7	 	 	 	6.3	 	 	 	6.7	 	
					
Weighted-average estimated value (per option share)	  	$	9.00	 	 	$	7.93	 	 	$	9.87	 	 	$	6.94	 	
We used the implied volatility for two-year traded options on our stock as the expected volatility assumption required in the lattice-binomial model consistent with SFAS 123(R) and SAB 107. The selection of the implied volatility approach was based upon the
 
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availability of actively traded options on our stock and also upon our assessment that implied volatility is more representative of future stock price trends than historical volatility. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates appropriate for the term of our employee stock options. The dividend yield assumption is based on the history and expectation of dividend payouts. The estimated kurtosis and skewness are technical measures of the distribution of stock price returns, which affect expected employee exercise behaviors that are based on our stock price return history as well as consideration of various academic analyses. Because share-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for forfeitures. If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the application of SFAS 123(R) in future periods, the compensation expense that we record under SFAS 123(R) may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.
Investment Impairments
Our publicly traded equity securities are reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at a fair value of $1.5 billion as of January 26, 2008, compared with $1.2 billion as of July 28, 2007. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We recognize an impairment charge when the declines in the fair values of our publicly traded equity securities below their cost basis are judged to be other-than-temporary. The ultimate value realized on these equity securities, to the extent unhedged, is subject to market price volatility until they are sold. We consider various factors in determining whether we should recognize an impairment charge, including the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than our cost basis, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, and our intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value. Our ongoing consideration of these factors could result in additional impairment charges in the future, which could adversely affect our net income. There were no impairment charges on investments in publicly held companies during the first six months of fiscal 2008 or fiscal 2007.
We also have investments in privately held companies, some of which are in the startup or development stages. As of January 26, 2008, our investments in privately held companies were $666 million, compared with $643 million as of July 28, 2007, and were included in other assets. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We monitor these investments for impairment and make appropriate reductions in carrying values if we determine an impairment charge is required, based primarily on the financial condition and near-term prospects of these companies. These investments are inherently risky because the markets for the technologies or products these companies are developing are typically in the early stages and may never materialize. Our impairment charges on investments in privately held companies were not material during the first six months of either fiscal 2008 or fiscal 2007.
Goodwill Impairments
Our methodology for allocating the purchase price relating to purchase acquisitions is determined through established valuation techniques. Goodwill is measured as the excess of the cost of acquisition over the sum of the amounts assigned to tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired less liabilities assumed. We perform goodwill impairment tests on an annual basis and between annual tests in certain circumstances for each reporting unit. The goodwill recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007 was $12.4 billion and $12.1 billion, respectively. In response to changes in industry and market conditions, we could be required to strategically realign our resources and consider restructuring, disposing of, or otherwise exiting businesses, which could result in an impairment of goodwill. There was no impairment of goodwill in the first six months of fiscal 2008 or fiscal 2007.
Income Taxes
We are subject to income taxes in both the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Our effective tax rates differ from the statutory rate primarily due to the tax impact of foreign operations, R&D tax credits, state taxes, and tax audit settlements. The effective tax rate was 21.9% in the second quarter of fiscal 2008 and 18.9% for the first six months of fiscal 2008. The effective tax rate was 17.7% in the second quarter of fiscal 2007 and 21.8% for the first six months of fiscal 2007.
Effective at the beginning of the first quarter of 2008, we adopted Financial Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), which is a change in accounting for income taxes. FIN 48 contains a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we reduced the liability for net unrecognized tax benefits by $451 million, and accounted for the reduction as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle that resulted in an increase to retained earnings of $202 million and an increase to additional paid-in capital of $249 million. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
 
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Significant judgment is required in evaluating our uncertain tax positions and determining our provision for income taxes. Although we believe our reserves are reasonable, no assurance can be given that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different from that which is reflected in our historical income tax provisions and accruals. We adjust these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the closing of a tax audit or the refinement of an estimate. To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will affect the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made. The provision for income taxes includes the effect of reserve provisions and changes to reserves that are considered appropriate, as well as the related net interest.
Significant judgment is also required in determining any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider all available evidence, including past operating results, estimates of future taxable income, and the feasibility of tax planning strategies. In the event that we change our determination as to the amount of deferred tax assets that can be realized, we will adjust our valuation allowance with a corresponding effect to the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made.
Our provision for income taxes is subject to volatility and could be adversely impacted by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries that have lower tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries that have higher tax rates; by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities; by expiration of or lapses in the R&D tax credit laws; by transfer pricing adjustments including the post-acquisition integration of purchased intangible assets from certain acquisitions into our intercompany R&D cost sharing arrangement; by tax effects of share-based compensation; by costs related to intercompany restructurings; or by changes in tax laws, regulations, accounting principles, including accounting for uncertain tax positions, or interpretations thereof. Significant judgment will be required to determine the recognition and measurement attribute prescribed in FIN 48. In addition, FIN 48 applies to all income tax positions, including the potential recovery of previously paid taxes, which if settled unfavorably could adversely affect our provision for income taxes or additional paid-in capital. Further, as a result of certain of our ongoing employment and capital investment actions and commitments, our income in certain countries is subject to reduced tax rates, and in some cases is wholly exempt from tax. Our failure to meet these commitments could adversely affect our provision for income taxes. In addition, we are subject to the continuous examination of our income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these continuous examinations will not have an adverse impact on our operating results and financial condition.
Loss Contingencies
We are subject to the possibility of various losses arising in the ordinary course of business. We consider the likelihood of loss or impairment of an asset or the incurrence of a liability, as well as our ability to reasonably estimate the amount of loss, in determining loss contingencies. An estimated loss contingency is accrued when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We regularly evaluate current information available to us to determine whether such accruals should be adjusted and whether new accruals are required.
Third parties, including customers, have in the past and may in the future assert claims or initiate litigation related to exclusive patent, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights to technologies and related standards that are relevant to us. These assertions have increased over time as a result of our growth and the general increase in the pace of patent claims assertions, particularly in the United States. If any infringement or other intellectual property claim made against us by any third party is successful, or if we fail to develop non-infringing technology or license the proprietary rights on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
Net Sales
The following table presents the breakdown of net sales between product and service revenue (in millions, except percentages):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	Variance
in
Dollars	  	Variance
in
Percent	 	 	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	Variance
in
Dollars	  	Variance
in
Percent	 	
Net sales:	  			  			  			  			 			  			  			  			
Product	  	$	8,245	  	$	7,099	  	$	1,146	  	16.1	%	 	$	16,260	  	$	14,039	  	$	2,221	  	15.8	%	
Service	  	 	1,586	  	 	1,340	  	 	246	  	18.4	%	 	 	3,125	  	 	2,584	  	 	541	  	20.9	%	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  			 	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  			
Total	  	$	9,831	  	$	8,439	  	$	1,392	  	16.5	%	 	$	19,385	  	$	16,623	  	$	2,762	  	16.6	%	

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Net sales, which include product and service revenue, for each theater are summarized in the following table (in millions, except percentages):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	Variance
in
Dollars	  	Variance
in
Percent	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	Variance
in
Dollars	 	 	Variance
in
Percent	 	
Net sales:	  				 				 			  			 				 				 				 			
United States and Canada	  	$	5,247	 	 	$	4,608	 	 	$	639	  	13.9	%	 	$	10,746	 	 	$	9,297	 	 	$	1,449	 	 	15.6	%	
Percentage of net sales	  	 	53.3	%	 	 	54.7	%	 			  			 	 	55.4	%	 	 	56.0	%	 				 			
European Markets	  	 	1,983	 	 	 	1,843	 	 	 	140	  	7.6	%	 	 	3,889	 	 	 	3,471	 	 	 	418	 	 	12.0	%	
Percentage of net sales	  	 	20.2	%	 	 	21.8	%	 			  			 	 	20.1	%	 	 	20.9	%	 				 			
Emerging Markets	  	 	1,225	 	 	 	803	 	 	 	422	  	52.6	%	 	 	2,092	 	 	 	1,531	 	 	 	561	 	 	36.6	%	
Percentage of net sales	  	 	12.5	%	 	 	9.5	%	 			  			 	 	10.8	%	 	 	9.2	%	 				 			
Asia Pacific	  	 	1,048	 	 	 	881	 	 	 	167	  	19.0	%	 	 	2,025	 	 	 	1,668	 	 	 	357	 	 	21.4	%	
Percentage of net sales	  	 	10.7	%	 	 	10.4	%	 			  			 	 	10.4	%	 	 	10.0	%	 				 			
Japan	  	 	328	 	 	 	304	 	 	 	24	  	7.9	%	 	 	633	 	 	 	656	 	 	 	(23	)	 	(3.5	)%	
Percentage of net sales	  	 	3.3	%	 	 	3.6	%	 			  			 	 	3.3	%	 	 	3.9	%	 				 			
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			
Total	  	$	9,831	 	 	$	8,439	 	 	$	1,392	  	16.5	%	 	$	19,385	 	 	$	16,623	 	 	$	2,762	 	 	16.6	%	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			
For the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, net product sales increased across our four largest geographic theaters, as we experienced increased information technology-related capital spending in our service provider, commercial, and enterprise markets. Our net product sales also benefited from our entry into new markets and the development of adjacent product offerings. During the first quarter of fiscal 2008, we enhanced our methodology for attributing certain revenue transactions including revenue deferrals, and the associated cost of sales, to each geographic theater. As a result, we have reclassified prior period net sales and net product sales by theater to conform to the current period’s presentation.
Net sales by theater in a particular period may be significantly impacted by a number of revenue recognition-related factors, including the complexity of transactions such as multiple element arrangements, the mix of financings provided to our channel partners and customers, and final acceptance of the product, system, or solution, among other factors. In addition, certain customers tend to make large and sporadic purchases and the net sales related to these transactions may also be affected by the timing of revenue  recognition.
Net Product Sales by Theater
The following table presents the breakdown of net product sales by theater (in millions, except percentages):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	Variance
in
Dollars	  	Variance
in
Percent	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	Variance
in
Dollars	 	 	Variance
in
Percent	 	
Net product sales:	  				 				 			  			 				 				 				 			
United States and Canada	  	$	4,163	 	 	$	3,670	 	 	$	493	  	13.4	%	 	$	8,616	 	 	$	7,483	 	 	$	1,133	 	 	15.1	%	
Percentage of net product sales	  	 	50.5	%	 	 	51.7	%	 			  			 	 	53.0	%	 	 	53.3	%	 				 			
European Markets	  	 	1,733	 	 	 	1,647	 	 	 	86	  	5.2	%	 	 	3,388	 	 	 	3,089	 	 	 	299	 	 	9.7	%	
Percentage of net product sales	  	 	21.0	%	 	 	23.2	%	 			  			 	 	20.8	%	 	 	22.0	%	 				 			
Emerging Markets	  	 	1,126	 	 	 	731	 	 	 	395	  	54.0	%	 	 	1,902	 	 	 	1,398	 	 	 	504	 	 	36.1	%	
Percentage of net product sales	  	 	13.7	%	 	 	10.3	%	 			  			 	 	11.7	%	 	 	10.0	%	 				 			
Asia Pacific	  	 	942	 	 	 	786	 	 	 	156	  	19.8	%	 	 	1,808	 	 	 	1,489	 	 	 	319	 	 	21.4	%	
Percentage of net product sales	  	 	11.4	%	 	 	11.1	%	 			  			 	 	11.1	%	 	 	10.6	%	 				 			
Japan	  	 	281	 	 	 	265	 	 	 	16	  	6.0	%	 	 	546	 	 	 	580	 	 	 	(34	)	 	(5.9	)%	
Percentage of net product sales	  	 	3.4	%	 	 	3.7	%	 			  			 	 	3.4	%	 	 	4.1	%	 				 			
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			
Total	  	$	8,245	 	 	$	7,099	 	 	$	1,146	  	16.1	%	 	$	16,260	 	 	$	14,039	 	 	$	2,221	 	 	15.8	%	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			
United States and Canada
The increase in net product sales in the United States and Canada theater during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 was primarily due to an increase in net product sales in the service provider and commercial markets. The service provider market experienced growth as increasing user demand for video and broadband and associated loads on networks led to increased investments by service providers. The commercial market, which includes net product sales from WebEx, experienced growth across all of the U.S. regional operations. We experienced improvement in the enterprise market in the United States during the second quarter of fiscal 2008, after some weakness within this
 
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market during the first quarter of fiscal 2008, compared with the corresponding periods in fiscal 2007. For the first six months of fiscal 2008, sales to the U.S. federal government increased compared with the corresponding period of fiscal 2007 due to strength in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.
European Markets
The increase in net product sales in the European Markets theater during the second quarter of fiscal 2008 compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2007 was led by the commercial and enterprise markets. We experienced weakness in our service provider market during the second quarter of fiscal 2008 compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2007; however, for the first quarter fiscal 2008 compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the net sales for the service provider market increased. The increase in net product sales in the European Markets theater for the first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding period of fiscal 2007 was due to balanced growth across our customer markets and most of our geographic areas.
Emerging Markets
During the second quarter of fiscal 2008, net product sales in the Emerging Markets theater also increased compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2007 due to increased shipments and recognition of previously deferred revenue. We experienced continued network deployment by service providers and growth in the enterprise and commercial markets, led by strength in the Middle East, as customers continue to adopt our architectural platform.
For the first six months of fiscal 2008, net product sales in the Emerging Markets theater increased compared with the corresponding period of fiscal 2007. However, during the first quarter of fiscal 2008, net product sales for the Emerging Markets theater were negatively impacted by the timing of revenue recognition and by reserves related to our credit exposures to a Brazilian importer of our products. The Emerging Markets theater had more revenue deferrals during the first quarter of fiscal 2008 compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2007 due to greater levels of financing arrangements, service, support, and other factors.
Certain of our customers in the Emerging Markets theater tend to make large and sporadic purchases and the net sales related to these transactions may also be affected by the timing of revenue recognition. Further, some customers may continue to require greater levels of financing arrangements, service, and support in future periods which may also impact the timing of recognition of the revenue for this theater. As a result, the net sales may continue to fluctuate from period to period and such changes may or may not be indicative of a trend in future revenue for this theater.
Asia Pacific
The increase in net product sales in the Asia Pacific theater during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 was attributable to the balanced growth in the enterprise, service provider, and commercial markets, with China and India experiencing strong growth during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008.
Japan
Net product  sales in the Japan theater were not material during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 and 2007.
Net Product Sales by Groups of Similar Products
The following table presents net sales for groups of similar products (in millions, except percentages):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	Variance
in
Dollars	  	Variance
in
Percent	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	Variance
in
Dollars	  	Variance
in
Percent	 	
Net product sales:	  				 				 			  			 				 				 			  			
Routers	  	$	1,969	 	 	$	1,674	 	 	$	295	  	17.6	%	 	$	3,853	 	 	$	3,269	 	 	$	584	  	17.9	%	
Percentage of net product sales	  	 	23.9	%	 	 	23.6	%	 			  			 	 	23.7	%	 	 	23.3	%	 			  			
Switches	  	 	3,349	 	 	 	3,013	 	 	 	336	  	11.2	%	 	 	6,629	 	 	 	6,043	 	 	 	586	  	9.7	%	
Percentage of net product sales	  	 	40.6	%	 	 	42.4	%	 			  			 	 	40.8	%	 	 	43.0	%	 			  			
Advanced technologies	  	 	2,404	 	 	 	1,930	 	 	 	474	  	24.6	%	 	 	4,763	 	 	 	3,790	 	 	 	973	  	25.7	%	
Percentage of net product sales	  	 	29.2	%	 	 	27.2	%	 			  			 	 	29.3	%	 	 	27.0	%	 			  			
Other	  	 	523	 	 	 	482	 	 	 	41	  	8.5	%	 	 	1,015	 	 	 	937	 	 	 	78	  	8.3	%	
Percentage of net product sales	  	 	6.3	%	 	 	6.8	%	 			  			 	 	6.2	%	 	 	6.7	%	 			  			
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  			
Total	  	$	8,245	 	 	$	7,099	 	 	$	1,146	  	16.1	%	 	$	16,260	 	 	$	14,039	 	 	$	2,221	  	15.8	%	

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Routers
The increase in net product sales related to routers in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 was primarily due to higher sales of our high-end routers, with strength in our Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System, Cisco 7600 Series, and Cisco 12000 Series products. Sales of our high-end routers, which represent a larger proportion of our total router sales compared with midrange and low-end routers, increased by approximately $265 million and $520 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively, compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007. Our high-end router sales are primarily to service providers, which tend to make large and sporadic purchases. We believe that the increase in high-end router sales is attributable to service providers continuing to scale network capacity to accommodate actual and projected increases in data, voice and video traffic. During the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, our sales of our integrated services routers (ISRs), which are included in the midrange and low-end routers, also increased and contributed to growth in sales of our advanced technologies products, such as security, unified communications, and wireless.
Switches
The increase in net product sales related to switches in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 was primarily due to higher sales of local-area network (LAN) fixed-configuration switches, which increased during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 by approximately $180 million and $495 million, respectively, compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007. The increase in sales of LAN fixed-configuration switches was a result of the continued adoption by our customers of new technologies throughout their networks from the data center to the wiring closet, including Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and Power over Ethernet, which leads to the higher sales of Cisco Catalyst 2960 and 3560 Series switches. Additionally, growth in advanced technologies such as unified communications and wireless LANs creates demand for LAN fixed-configuration infrastructure as additional endpoints are added to the network. After a slight decline in the first quarter of fiscal 2008 when compared with the corresponding period of fiscal 2007, net product sales related to our modular switches also experienced growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2008. Net product sales related to our modular switches increased by approximately $150 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2008 compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2007 primarily due to the increased sales of the high-end Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches.
Advanced Technologies
The increase in net product sales related to advanced technologies in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 was due to the following:
 
 	•	 	Sales of unified communications increased by approximately $230 million and $490 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively, primarily due to sales of IP phones and associated software as our customers continued to transition from an analog-based to an IP-based infrastructure, and also the addition of sales from the acquisition of WebEx.	
 
 	•	 	Sales of video systems, which include solutions and systems designed to enable video-specific delivery systems for service providers, increased by approximately $125 million and $265 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively. The increase was attributable to several factors, including an increase in the demand for high-definition (HD) set-top boxes, network upgrades, and international growth.	
 
 	•	 	Sales of storage area networking products increased by approximately $35 million and $60 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively. This increase was due to the continuing build-out of the Cisco MDS 9000 products in the data center.	
 
 	•	 	Sales of security products increased by approximately $45 million and $95 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively, primarily due to module and line card sales related to our routers and LAN switches as customers continued to emphasize network security, and also due to sales of our next-generation adaptive security appliance products, which integrate multiple technologies including virtual private network (VPN), firewall, and intrusion prevention services on one platform, and the addition of sales from the acquisition of IronPort.	
 
 	•	 	Sales of application networking services increased by approximately $35 million and $65 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively. The increase was due to higher demand from customers for WAN optimization solutions.	
 
 	•	 	Sales of wireless LAN products increased by approximately $25 million during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively, primarily due to new customers, continued deployments with existing customers, and customers’ adoption of our unified architecture platform.	
 
 	•	 	Home networking product sales decreased by approximately $20 million and $30 million during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively.	
 
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Other Product Revenue
The increase in other product revenue in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 was primarily due to an increase in sales of optical networking products. Other product revenue also includes sales of emerging technology products.
Factors That May Impact Net Product Sales
Net product sales may continue to be affected by changes in the geopolitical environment and global economic conditions; challenges that are currently affecting economic conditions in the United States; competition, including price-focused competitors from Asia, especially China; new product introductions; sales cycles and product implementation cycles; changes in the mix of our customers between service provider and enterprise markets; changes in the mix of direct sales and indirect sales; variations in sales channels; and final acceptance criteria of the product, system, or solution as specified by the customer.
Sales to the service provider market have been characterized by large and sporadic purchases, especially relating to our router sales and sales of certain advanced technologies. In addition, service provider customers typically have longer implementation cycles, require a broader range of services, including network design services, and often have acceptance provisions that can lead to a delay in revenue recognition. Certain of our customers in the Emerging Markets theater also tend to make large and sporadic purchases and the net sales related to these transactions may similarly be affected by the timing of revenue recognition. As we focus on new market opportunities, customers may require greater levels of financing arrangements, service, and support, especially in the Emerging Markets theater, which may result in a delay in the timing of revenue recognition. To improve customer satisfaction, we continue to focus on managing our manufacturing lead-time performance, which may result in corresponding reductions in order backlog. A decline in backlog levels could result in more variability and less predictability in our quarter-to-quarter net sales and operating results.
Net product sales may also be adversely affected by fluctuations in demand for our products, especially with respect to Internet businesses and telecommunications service providers, price and product competition in the communications and information technology industry, introduction and market acceptance of new technologies and products, adoption of new networking standards, and financial difficulties experienced by our customers. We may, from time to time, experience manufacturing issues that create a delay in our suppliers’ ability to provide specific components, resulting in delayed shipments. To the extent that manufacturing issues and any related component shortages, including those caused by any possible disruption related to our implementation of the lean manufacturing model, result in delayed shipments in the future, and particularly in periods when we and our suppliers are operating at higher levels of capacity, it is possible that revenue for a quarter could be adversely affected if such matters are not remediated within the same quarter. For additional factors that may impact net product sales, see “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Our distributors and retail partners participate in various cooperative marketing and other programs. In addition, increasing sales to our distributors and retail partners generally results in greater difficulty in forecasting the mix of our products and, to a certain degree, the timing of orders from our customers. We recognize revenue for sales to our distributors and retail partners based on a sell-through method using information provided by them, and we maintain estimated accruals and allowances for all cooperative marketing and other programs.
Net Service Revenue
The increase in net service revenue during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 was primarily due to increased technical support service contract initiations and renewals associated with higher product sales, which have resulted in a larger installed base of equipment being serviced, and increased revenue from advanced services, which relates to consulting support services for specific networking needs. The increase in advanced services revenue in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 was attributable primarily to our revenue growth in the service provider market, the Emerging  Markets theater, and advanced technologies products.
Gross Margin
The following table presents the gross margin for products and services (in millions, except percentages):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	Amount	  	Percentage	 	 	Amount	  	Percentage	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Gross margin:	  			  			  			 			 			  			  			 			
Product	  	$	5,363	  	$	4,555	  	65.0	%	 	64.2	%	 	$	10,555	  	$	8,996	  	64.9	%	 	64.1	%	
Service	  	 	977	  	 	833	  	61.6	%	 	62.2	%	 	 	1,958	  	 	1,625	  	62.7	%	 	62.9	%	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  			 			 	 	 	  	 	 	  			 			
Total	  	$	6,340	  	$	5,388	  	64.5	%	 	63.8	%	 	$	12,513	  	$	10,621	  	64.5	%	 	63.9	%	

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The following table presents the gross margin for each theater (in millions, except percentages):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	Amount	 	 	Percentage	 	 	Amount	 	 	Percentage	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Gross margin:	  				 				 			 			 				 				 			 			
United States and Canada	  	$	3,468	 	 	$	2,971	 	 	66.1	%	 	64.5	%	 	$	7,141	 	 	$	5,988	 	 	66.5	%	 	64.4	%	
European Markets	  	 	1,301	 	 	 	1,202	 	 	65.6	%	 	65.2	%	 	 	2,545	 	 	 	2,290	 	 	65.4	%	 	66.0	%	
Emerging Markets	  	 	763	 	 	 	510	 	 	62.3	%	 	63.5	%	 	 	1,258	 	 	 	980	 	 	60.1	%	 	64.0	%	
Asia Pacific	  	 	679	 	 	 	573	 	 	64.8	%	 	65.0	%	 	 	1,315	 	 	 	1,062	 	 	64.9	%	 	63.7	%	
Japan	  	 	231	 	 	 	210	 	 	70.4	%	 	69.1	%	 	 	449	 	 	 	450	 	 	70.9	%	 	68.6	%	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			 			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			 			
Theater Total	  	 	6,442	 	 	 	5,466	 	 	65.5	%	 	64.8	%	 	 	12,708	 	 	 	10,770	 	 	65.6	%	 	64.8	%	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			 			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			 			
Unallocated corporate items	  	 	(102	)	 	 	(78	)	 			 			 	 	(195	)	 	 	(149	)	 			 			
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			 			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			 			
Total	  	$	6,340	 	 	$	5,388	 	 	64.5	%	 	63.8	%	 	$	12,513	 	 	$	10,621	 	 	64.5	%	 	63.9	%	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			 			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 			 			
During the first quarter of fiscal 2008, we enhanced our methodology for attributing certain revenue transactions including revenue deferrals, and the associated cost of sales to each geographic theater. As a result, we have reclassified prior period gross margin amounts by theater to conform to the current period’s presentation.
For the first six months of fiscal 2008, the decrease in the gross margin percentage for the Emerging Markets theater from the first six months of fiscal 2007 was due to reserves recorded relating to credit exposures to a Brazilian importer of our products, higher sales discounts, and the effect of revenue deferrals relating to financing arrangements, service, and support, which along with other factors, were partially offset by higher shipment volume and lower overall manufacturing costs.
The gross margin for each theater is derived from information from our internal management system. The gross margin percentage for a particular theater may fluctuate and period to period changes in such percentages may or may not be indicative of a trend for that theater.
Product Gross Margin
The increase in total product gross margin percentage during the second quarter of fiscal 2008 compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2007 was due to the following factors:
 
 	•	 	Lower overall manufacturing costs related to lower component costs and value engineering, partially offset by other manufacturing-related costs, increased product gross margin percentage by 2.4%. Value engineering is the process by which production costs are reduced through component redesign, board configuration, test processes, and transformation processes.	
 
 	•	 	Higher shipment volume, net of certain variable costs, increased product gross margin percentage by 0.6%.	
 
 	•	 	Changes in the mix of products sold increased product gross margin percentage by 0.4%.	
 
 	•	 	Sales discounts, rebates and product pricing decreased product gross margin percentage by 2.3%.	
 
 	•	 	Net effects of amortization of purchased intangible assets and share-based compensation expense decreased product gross margin percentage by 0.3%.	
The increase in total product gross margin percentage during the first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the first six months of fiscal 2007 was due to the following factors:
 
 	•	 	Lower overall manufacturing costs related to lower component costs and value engineering, partially offset by other manufacturing-related costs, increased product gross margin percentage by 1.7%.	
 
 	•	 	Higher shipment volume, net of certain variable costs, increased product gross margin percentage by 0.6%.	
 
 	•	 	Changes in the mix of products sold increased product gross margin percentage by 0.3%.	
 
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 	•	 	Sales discounts, rebates, and product pricing decreased product gross margin percentage by 1.6%.	
 
 	•	 	Net effects of amortization of purchased intangible assets and share-based compensation expense decreased product gross margin percentage by 0.2%.	
Product gross margin may continue to be adversely affected in the future by changes in the mix of products sold, including further periods of increased growth of some of our lower margin products; introduction of new products, including products with price-performance advantages; our ability to reduce production costs; entry into new markets, including markets with different pricing structures and cost structures, as a result of internal development or through acquisitions; changes in distribution channels; price competition, including competitors from Asia and especially China; changes in geographic mix; the timing of revenue recognition and revenue deferrals; sales discounts; increases in material or labor costs; excess inventory and obsolescence charges; warranty costs; changes in shipment volume; loss of cost savings due to changes in component pricing; effect of value engineering; inventory holding charges; and how well we execute on our strategy and operating plans.
Service Gross Margin
Our service gross margin percentage decreased slightly in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 due primarily to advanced services. Our service gross margin from technical support services is higher than the service gross margin from our advanced services, and our revenue from advanced services may continue to increase to a higher proportion of total service revenue due to our continued focus on providing comprehensive support to our customers’ networking devices, applications, and infrastructures. Additionally, we have continued to invest in building out our technical support and advanced services capabilities in the Emerging Markets theater. Service gross margin will typically experience some variability over time due to various factors such as the change in mix between technical support services and advanced services, as well as the timing of technical support service contract initiations and renewals and the timing of our strategic investments in headcount and resources to support this business.
Research and Development, Sales and Marketing, and General and Administrative Expenses
Research and development (R&D), sales and marketing, and general and administrative (G&A) expenses are summarized in the following table (in millions, except percentages):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	Variance
in
Dollars	  	Variance
in
Percent	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	Variance
in
Dollars	  	Variance
in
Percent	 	
Research and development	  	$	1,216	 	 	$	1,094	 	 	$	122	  	11.2	%	 	$	2,408	 	 	$	2,177	 	 	$	231	  	10.6	%	
Percentage of net sales	  	 	12.4	%	 	 	13.0	%	 			  			 	 	12.4	%	 	 	13.1	%	 			  			
Sales and marketing	  	 	2,084	 	 	 	1,726	 	 	 	358	  	20.7	%	 	 	4,087	 	 	 	3,412	 	 	 	675	  	19.8	%	
Percentage of net sales	  	 	21.2	%	 	 	20.5	%	 			  			 	 	21.1	%	 	 	20.5	%	 			  			
General and administrative	  	 	520	 	 	 	340	 	 	 	180	  	52.9	%	 	 	1,010	 	 	 	704	 	 	 	306	  	43.5	%	
Percentage of net sales	  	 	5.3	%	 	 	4.0	%	 			  			 	 	5.2	%	 	 	4.2	%	 			  			
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  			
Total	  	$	3,820	 	 	$	3,160	 	 	$	660	  	20.9	%	 	$	7,505	 	 	$	6,293	 	 	$	1,212	  	19.3	%	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  			 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  			
Percentage of net sales	  	 	38.9	%	 	 	37.4	%	 			  			 	 	38.7	%	 	 	37.9	%	 			  			
R&D expenses increased during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 primarily due to higher headcount-related expenses, reflecting our continued investment in R&D efforts for routers, switches, advanced technologies, and other product technologies. During the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, R&D expenses decreased as a percentage of revenue compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007. We have also continued to purchase or license technology in order to bring a broad range of products to market in a timely fashion. If we believe that we are unable to enter a particular market in a timely manner with internally developed products, we may license technology from other businesses or acquire businesses as an alternative to internal R&D. All of our R&D costs have been expensed as incurred.
Sales and marketing expenses for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 increased compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 primarily due to an increase in sales expenses of approximately $300 million and $570 million, respectively. Sales expenses increased primarily due to an increase in headcount-related expenses.
G&A expenses for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 increased compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 primarily due to increased headcount-related expenses and increased information technology-related spending. In the first six months of fiscal 2007, G&A expenses included approximately $60 million of real estate-related charges.
Foreign currency fluctuations, net of hedging, increased total R&D, sales and marketing, and G&A expenses by approximately 3.0%
 
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and 2.5% in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007.
Headcount
Our headcount increased by 2,552 employees during the first six months of fiscal 2008, reflecting the investment in sales and R&D described earlier and also reflecting increases in investments in our service business; and acquisitions. Our headcount is expected to increase, as we continue to invest in engineering and sales headcount. As a result, if we do not achieve the benefits anticipated from these investments, our operating results may be adversely affected.
Share-Based Compensation Expense
Employee share-based compensation expense under SFAS 123(R) was as follows (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27
2007	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	
Cost of sales—product	  	$	11	  	$	12	  	$	20	  	$	23	
Cost of sales—service	  	 	30	  	 	30	  	 	53	  	 	54	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Employee share-based compensation expense in cost of sales	  	 	41	  	 	42	  	 	73	  	 	77	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Research and development	  	 	81	  	 	74	  	 	146	  	 	148	
Sales and marketing	  	 	111	  	 	99	  	 	210	  	 	193	
General and administrative	  	 	40	  	 	32	  	 	70	  	 	54	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Employee share-based compensation expense in operating expenses	  	 	232	  	 	205	  	 	426	  	 	395	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total employee share-based compensation expense (1)	  	$	273	  	$	247	  	$	499	  	$	472	

(1)	Share-based compensation expense related to acquisitions and investments of $21 million and $9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007, respectively, and $45 million and $19 million for the first six months of fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007, respectively, is disclosed in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements and is not included in the above table.	
Share-based compensation expense included compensation expense for share-based payment awards granted prior to, but not yet vested, as of July 30, 2005 based on the grant date fair value using the Black-Scholes model, and compensation expense for share-based payment awards granted subsequent to July 30, 2005 based on the grant date fair value using the lattice-binomial model. In conjunction with the adoption of SFAS 123(R), we changed our method of attributing the value of share-based compensation to expense from the accelerated multiple-option approach to the straight-line single-option method. Compensation expense for all share-based payment awards granted on or prior to July 30, 2005 is recognized using the accelerated multiple-option approach, whereas compensation expense for all share-based payment awards granted subsequent to  July 30, 2005 is recognized using the straight-line single-option method.
Amortization of Purchased Intangible Assets and In-Process Research and Development
The following table presents the amortization of purchased intangible assets and in-process R&D included in operating expenses (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	  	Six Months Ended	
 	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	  	January 26,
2008	  	January 27,
2007	
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	  	$	116	  	$	96	  	$	233	  	$	201	
In-process research and development	  	$	—  	  	$	2	  	$	3	  	$	6	
The increase in the amortization of purchased intangible assets included in operating expenses for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 was primarily due to the additional amortization of purchased intangible assets related to recent acquisitions. For additional information regarding purchased intangibles, see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Our methodology for allocating the purchase price, relating to purchase acquisitions, to in-process R&D is determined through established valuation techniques. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the acquisitions completed in fiscal 2008 and 2007 and the in-process R&D recorded for these acquisitions. In-process R&D was
 
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expensed upon acquisition because technological feasibility had not been established and no future alternative uses existed.
The fair value of the existing purchased technology and patents, as well as the technology under development, is typically determined using the income approach, which discounts expected future cash flows to present value. The discount rates used in the present value calculations are typically derived from a weighted-average cost of capital analysis and venture capital surveys, adjusted upward to reflect additional risks inherent in the development lifecycle. We consider the pricing model for products related to these acquisitions to be standard within the high-technology communications industry. However, we do not expect to achieve a material amount of expense reductions as a result of integrating the acquired in-process technology. Therefore, the valuation assumptions do not include significant anticipated cost savings.
For purchase acquisitions completed to date, the development of these technologies remains a significant risk due to the remaining efforts to achieve technological feasibility, rapidly changing customer markets, uncertain standards for new products, and significant competitive threats. The nature of the efforts to develop these technologies into commercially viable products consists primarily of planning, designing, experimenting, and testing activities necessary to determine that the technologies can meet market expectations, including functionality and technical requirements. Failure to bring these products to market in a timely manner could result in a loss of market share or a lost opportunity to capitalize on emerging markets and could have a material adverse impact on our business and operating results.
The key assumptions for calculating in-process R&D primarily consist of an expected completion date for the in-process projects; estimated costs to complete the projects; revenue and expense projections, assuming the products have entered the market; and discount rates based on the risks associated with the development lifecycle of the in-process technology acquired. Failure to achieve the expected levels of revenue and net income from these products will negatively affect the return on investment expected at the time that the acquisitions were completed and may result in impairment charges. Actual results from the purchase acquisitions to date did not have a material adverse impact on our business and operating results.
Interest Income, Net
The components of interest income, net, are as follows (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Interest income	  	$	303	 	 	$	267	 	 	$	622	 	 	$	518	 	
Interest expense	  	 	(91	)	 	 	(95	)	 	 	(187	)	 	 	(189	)	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	212	 	 	$	172	 	 	$	435	 	 	$	329	 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The increase in interest income during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 was primarily due to higher average total cash and cash equivalents and fixed income security balances in fiscal 2008 when compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007, partially offset by lower interest rates. The decrease in interest expense in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 was due to lower interest rates. Interest expense includes the effect of $6.0 billion of interest rate swaps, which effectively convert fixed-rate  interest expense to floating-rate interest expense based on LIBOR.
Other Income, Net
The components of other income, net, are as follows (in millions):

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	 	Six months Ended	 	
 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	 	January 26,
2008	 	 	January 27,
2007	 	
Net gains on investments in fixed income and publicly traded equity securities	  	$	65	 	 	$	61	 	 	$	119	 	 	$	127	 	
Net (losses) gains on investments in privately held companies	  	 	(10	)	 	 	—  	 	 	 	(7	)	 	 	(14	)	
Impairment charges on investments in privately held companies	  	 	(5	)	 	 	(10	)	 	 	(8	)	 	 	(14	)	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net gains and impairment charges on investments	  	 	50	 	 	 	51	 	 	 	104	 	 	 	99	 	
Other	  	 	(28	)	 	 	(18	)	 	 	(51	)	 	 	(38	)	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	22	 	 	$	33	 	 	$	53	 	 	$	61	 	

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Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes resulted in an effective tax rate of 21.9% for the second quarter of fiscal 2008, compared with an effective tax rate of 17.7% for the second quarter of fiscal 2007, and 18.9% for the first six months of fiscal 2008, compared with 21.8% for the first six months of fiscal 2007. The 4.2% increase in the effective tax rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2008, as compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2007, was primarily attributable to a tax benefit relating to the reinstatement of the U.S. federal R&D tax credit during the second quarter of fiscal 2007. The 2.9% decrease in the effective tax rate for the first six months of fiscal 2008, as compared with the first six months of fiscal 2007, was primarily attributable to a net tax benefit of $162 million from the settlement of certain U.S. income tax matters in the first quarter of fiscal 2008, partially offset by the reinstatement of the U.S. federal R&D tax credit during the second quarter of fiscal 2007. The effective tax rate for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007 also included increased tax benefit attributed to foreign operations.
On July 29, 2007, we adopted FIN 48, which is a change in accounting for income taxes. FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for the financial statement recognition, measurement, classification and disclosure of uncertain tax positions. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our provision for income taxes, including the effects of adoption of FIN 48 on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
SFAS 157
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework and gives guidance regarding the methods used for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently assessing the effect that SFAS 157 may have on our results of operations and financial position.
SFAS 159
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.” SFAS 159 is expected to expand the use of fair value accounting but does not affect existing standards which require certain assets or liabilities to be carried at fair value. The objective of SFAS 159 is to improve financial reporting by providing companies with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. Under SFAS 159, a company may choose, at specified election dates, to measure eligible items at fair value and report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently assessing the effect that SFAS 159 may have on our results of operations and financial position.
SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”) and SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 141(R) will significantly change current practices regarding business combinations. Among the more significant changes, SFAS 141(R) expands the definition of a business and a business combination; requires the acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests (including goodwill), measured at fair value at the acquisition date; requires acquisition-related expenses and restructuring costs to be recognized separately from the business combination; requires assets acquired and liabilities assumed from contractual and non-contractual contingencies to be recognized at their acquisition-date fair values with subsequent changes recognized in earnings; and requires in-process research and development to be capitalized at fair value as an indefinite-lived intangible asset. SFAS 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, reporting them as equity separate from the parent entity’s equity, as well as requiring expanded disclosures. SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We are currently assessing the impact that SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160 will have on our results of operations and financial position.
 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following sections discuss the effects of changes in our balance sheet and cash flows, contractual obligations, other commitments, and the stock repurchase program on our liquidity and capital resources.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flows
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Investments
The following table summarizes our cash and cash equivalents and investments (in millions):

 	  	January 26,
2008	  	July 28,
2007	  	Increase
(Decrease)	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	  	$	5,202	  	$	3,728	  	$	1,474	 	
Fixed income securities	  	 	15,954	  	 	17,297	  	 	(1,343	)	
Publicly traded equity securities	  	 	1,537	  	 	1,241	  	 	296	 	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	22,693	  	$	22,266	  	$	427	 	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	
The increase in cash and cash equivalents and investments was primarily a result of cash provided by operating activities of $5.5 billion; issuance of common stock of $2.2 billion related to employee stock option exercises and employee stock purchases; approximately $750 million related to the net increase in unrealized gains from investments; and excess tax benefits from share-based compensation of $338 million; partially offset by the repurchase of common stock of $7.1 billion, capital expenditures of $591 million, and acquisitions of businesses of $385 million. We believe that our strong cash and cash equivalents and investments position allows us to use our cash resources for strategic investments to gain access to new technologies, acquisitions, customer financing activities, working capital, and the repurchase of shares.
As of January 26, 2008, approximately $2.5 billion of our cash and cash equivalents and investments was held in the United States. The remainder of our cash and cash equivalents and investments was held outside of the United States in various foreign subsidiaries. If these cash and cash equivalents and investments are distributed to the United States in the form of dividends or otherwise, we may be subject to additional U.S. income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits) and foreign withholding taxes.
On August 17, 2007, we entered into a credit agreement with certain institutional lenders that provides for a $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility that is scheduled to expire on August 17, 2012. Any advances under the credit agreement will accrue interest at rates that are equal to, based on certain conditions, either (i) the higher of the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% or Bank of America’s “prime rate” as announced from time to time, or (ii) LIBOR plus a margin that is based on the our senior debt credit ratings as published by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. The credit agreement requires that we maintain an interest coverage ratio as defined in the agreement. As of January 26, 2008, we were in compliance with the required interest coverage ratio and we had not borrowed any funds under the credit facility. We may also, upon the agreement of either the then existing lenders or of additional lenders not currently parties to the agreement, increase the commitments under the credit facility up to a total of $5.0 billion, and/or extend the expiration date of the credit facility up to August 15, 2014.
We expect that cash provided by operating activities may fluctuate in future periods as a result of a number of factors, including fluctuations in our operating results, the rate at which products are shipped during the quarter (which we refer to as shipment linearity), accounts receivable collections, inventory and supply chain management, excess tax benefits from share-based compensation, and the timing and amount  of tax and other payments. For additional discussion, see “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Accounts Receivable, Net
The following table summarizes our accounts receivable, net (in millions, except DSO):

 	  	January 26,
2008	  	July 28,
2007	  	Increase
(Decrease)	
Accounts receivable, net	  	$	4,165	  	$	3,989	  	$	176	
DSO	  	 	39	  	 	38	  	 	1	
Shipment linearity, and the rate at which we collect payments, affect our DSO. During the second quarter of fiscal 2008, our DSO was affected by several large multi-year service agreements that were signed during January 2008 for which the receivables were not collected as of the quarter end.
 
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Inventories and Purchase Commitments with Contract Manufacturers and Suppliers
The following table summarizes our inventories and purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers (in millions, except annualized inventory turns):

 	  	January 26,
2008	  	July 28,
2007	  	Increase
(Decrease)	 	
Inventories:	  			  			  				
Raw materials	  	$	146	  	$	173	  	$	(27	)	
Work in process	  	 	58	  	 	45	  	 	13	 	
Finished goods:	  			  			  				
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	  	 	502	  	 	544	  	 	(42	)	
Manufactured finished goods	  	 	318	  	 	314	  	 	4	 	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Total finished goods	  	 	820	  	 	858	  	 	(38	)	
Service-related spares	  	 	203	  	 	211	  	 	(8	)	
Demonstration systems	  	 	40	  	 	35	  	 	5	 	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	1,267	  	$	1,322	  	$	(55	)	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Annualized inventory turns	  	 	10.8	  	 	10.3	  	 	0.5	 	
Purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers	  	$	2,741	  	$	2,581	  	$	160	 	
Our finished goods consist of distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales and manufactured finished goods. Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales are related to unrecognized revenue on shipments to distributors and retail partners and shipments to customers. Manufactured finished goods consist primarily of build-to-order and build-to-stock products. Service-related spares consist of reusable equipment related to our technical support and warranty activities. All inventories are accounted for at the lower of cost or market. Inventory is written down based on excess and obsolete inventories determined primarily by future demand forecasts. Inventory write downs are measured as the difference between the cost of the inventory and market, based upon assumptions about future demand, and are charged to the provision for inventory, which is a component of our cost of sales.
We purchase components from a variety of suppliers and use several contract manufacturers to provide manufacturing services for our products. During the normal course of business, in order to manage manufacturing lead times and help ensure adequate component supply, we enter into agreements with contract manufacturers and suppliers that either allow them to procure inventory based upon criteria as defined by us or that establish the parameters defining our requirements. In certain instances, these agreements allow us the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust our requirements based on our business needs prior to firm orders being placed. Consequently, only a portion of our reported purchase commitments arising from these agreements are firm, non-cancelable, and unconditional commitments. In addition, we record a liability, included in other current liabilities, for firm, non-cancelable, and unconditional purchase commitments for quantities in excess of our future demand forecasts consistent with the valuation of our excess and obsolete inventory. The purchase commitments for inventory are expected to be primarily fulfilled within one year.
Inventory and supply chain management remain areas of focus as we balance the need to maintain supply chain flexibility to help ensure competitive lead times with the risk of inventory obsolescence because of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements. We believe the amount of our inventory and purchase  commitments are appropriate for our revenue levels.
Long-Term Debt
The following table summarizes our long-term debt (in millions):

 	  	January 26,
2008	 	 	July 28,
2007	 	 	Increase
(Decrease)	
Senior notes:	  				 				 			
Floating-rate notes, due 2009	  	$	500	 	 	$	500	 	 	$	—  	
5.25% fixed-rate notes, due 2011	  	 	3,000	 	 	 	3,000	 	 	 	—  	
5.50% fixed-rate notes, due 2016	  	 	3,000	 	 	 	3,000	 	 	 	—  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total senior notes	  	 	6,500	 	 	 	6,500	 	 	 	—  	
Other notes	  	 	5	 	 	 	5	 	 	 	—  	
Unamortized discount	  	 	(15	)	 	 	(16	)	 	 	1	
Fair value adjustment	  	 	361	 	 	 	(81	)	 	 	442	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	6,851	 	 	$	6,408	 	 	$	443	

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In February 2006, we issued $500 million of senior floating interest rate notes due 2009 (the “2009 Notes”), $3.0 billion of 5.25% senior notes due 2011 (the “2011 Notes”), and $3.0 billion of 5.50% senior notes due 2016 (the “2016 Notes”), for an aggregate principal amount of $6.5 billion. The debt issuance was used to fund the acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta and for general corporate purposes. The 2011 Notes and the 2016 Notes are redeemable by us at any time, subject to a make-whole premium. To achieve our interest rate objectives, we entered into $6.0 billion notional amount of interest rate swaps. In effect, these swaps convert the fixed interest rates of the 2011 Notes and the 2016 Notes to floating interest rates based on LIBOR. Gains and losses in the fair value of the interest rate swaps offset changes in the fair value of the underlying debt. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We were in compliance with all debt covenants as of January 26, 2008.
Deferred Revenue
The following table presents the breakdown of deferred revenue (in millions):

 	  	January 26,
2008	  	July 28,
2007	  	Increase
(Decrease)	
Service	  	$	5,292	  	$	4,840	  	$	452	
Product	  	 	2,691	  	 	2,197	  	 	494	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	7,983	  	$	7,037	  	$	946	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Reported as:	  			  			  			
Current	  	$	5,786	  	$	5,391	  	$	395	
Noncurrent	  	 	2,197	  	 	1,646	  	 	551	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
Total	  	$	7,983	  	$	7,037	  	$	946	
	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	
The increase in deferred service revenue reflects a seasonal increase in the volume of technical support contract initiations and renewals partially offset by the ongoing amortization of deferred service revenue. The increase in deferred product revenue was primarily related to shipments not having met revenue recognition criteria, other revenue deferrals, and the timing of cash receipts related to unrecognized revenue from two-tier distributors.
Operating Leases
We lease office space in several U.S. locations. Outside the United States, larger sites include Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The future minimum lease payments under all our non-cancelable operating leases with an initial term in excess of one year as of January 26, 2008 were $1.6 billion. For additional information see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Nuova Systems, Inc.
In fiscal 2007, we made an investment in Nuova Systems, Inc. (“Nuova”), which conducts research and development on data center-related products. This investment included $50 million of funding and a license to certain of our technology. As a result of this investment, we own approximately 80% of Nuova and have consolidated the results of Nuova in our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Upon the occurrence of certain events, we have committed additional funding of up to $62 million, of which $20 million was funded during the second quarter of fiscal 2008.
In connection with this investment, we have entered into a call option agreement with Nuova that provides us with the right to purchase the remaining interests of approximately 20% in Nuova. If the call option is exercised by us, the minority interest holders would be eligible to receive up to three milestone payments based on agreed-upon formulas. The exercise of the call option, if exercised, may occur in the second half of fiscal 2008. The amounts due under the milestone payments would be recognized by us as compensation expense when it is determined that the exercise of the call option is probable, which may be in advance of the exercise of the call option.
Compensation expense recorded for each quarter would be based on an estimate of the fair value of the amounts that could be earned by the minority interest holders pursuant to a vesting schedule at the end of each quarter. Subsequent changes to the fair value of the
 
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amounts probable of being earned and the continued vesting will result in adjustments to the recorded compensation expense. The potential amounts that could be recorded as compensation expense would be up to a maximum of $678 million and are expected to be paid during fiscal 2010 through fiscal 2012.
Other Commitments
As of January 26, 2008, we were party to an agreement to invest approximately $700 million in venture funds managed by SOFTBANK Corp. and its affiliates (“SOFTBANK”) that is required to be funded on demand. As of January 26, 2008 and July 28, 2007, we had invested $628 million and $616 million, respectively, in the venture funds pursuant to the commitment.
We also have certain other funding commitments related to our privately held investments that are based on the achievement of certain agreed-upon milestones. The remaining funding commitments were approximately $94 million as of January 26, 2008, compared with approximately $56 million as of July 28, 2007.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We consider our investments in unconsolidated variable interest entities to be off-balance sheet arrangements. In the ordinary course of business, we have investments in privately held companies and provide financing to certain customers through our wholly owned subsidiaries, which may be considered to be variable interest entities. We have evaluated our investments in these privately held companies and customer financings and have determined that there were no significant unconsolidated variable interest entities as of January 26, 2008.
Certain events can require a reassessment of our investments in privately held companies or customer financings to determine if they are variable interest entities and if we would be regarded as the primary beneficiary. As a result of such events, we may be required to make additional disclosures or consolidate these entities. Because we may not control these entities, we may not have the ability to influence these events.
We provide guarantees for various third party financing arrangements to channel partners and other customers which could be called upon in the event of non-payment to the third party. As of January 26, 2008, the total maximum potential future payments related to these guarantees was approximately $700 million of which approximately $575 million was recorded as deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with revenue recognition policies and FASB Interpretation No. 45.
Stock Repurchase Program
In September 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program. As of January 26, 2008, our Board of Directors had authorized an aggregate repurchase of up to $62 billion of common stock under this program and the remaining authorized repurchase amount was $11.8 billion with no termination date. The stock repurchase activity under the stock repurchase program during the first six months of fiscal 2008 is summarized as follows (in millions, except per-share amounts):

 	  	Shares
Repurchased	  	Weighted-
Average
Price
per Share	  	Amount
Repurchased	
Cumulative balance at July 28, 2007	  	2,228	  	$	19.40	  	$	43,229	
Repurchase of common stock (1)	  	235	  	 	29.74	  	 	7,000	
	  	 	  			  	 	 	
Cumulative balance at January 26, 2008	  	2,463	  	$	20.39	  	$	50,229	

(1)	Excludes $100 million of stock repurchases which were transacted prior to July 28, 2007 but settled during fiscal 2008.	
The purchase price for the shares of our common stock repurchased is reflected as a reduction to shareholders’ equity. In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 6, “Status of Accounting Research Bulletins,” we are required to allocate the purchase price of the repurchased shares as (i) a reduction to retained earnings until retained earnings are zero and then as an increase to accumulated deficit and (ii) a reduction of common stock and additional paid-in capital. Issuance of common stock and the tax benefit
 
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related to employee stock incentive plans are recorded as an increase to common stock and additional paid-in capital. As a result of future repurchases, we may continue to report an accumulated deficit as a component in shareholders’ equity. Our accumulated deficit as of January 26, 2008 is a result of the accounting effect of stock repurchases and is not reflective of our financial performance or our liquidity.
Liquidity and Capital Resource Requirements
Based on past performance and current expectations, we believe our cash and cash equivalents, investments, and cash generated from operations, and our ability to access capital markets, including committed credit lines, will satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures, investment requirements, stock repurchases, contractual obligations, commitments, future customer financings, and other liquidity requirements associated with our operations through at least the next 12 months. There are no other transactions, arrangements, or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons that are reasonably likely to materially affect liquidity, the availability, and our requirements for capital resources.
 
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Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	
Investments
We maintain an investment portfolio of various holdings, types, and maturities. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. As of January 26, 2008, these securities are classified as available-for-sale and consequently are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value with unrealized gains or losses, to the extent unhedged, reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. Our evaluation of investments in private and public companies is based on the fundamentals of the businesses, including, among other factors, the nature of their technologies and potential for financial return.
We consider various factors in determining whether we should recognize an impairment charge for our fixed income securities and publicly traded equity securities, including the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than our cost basis, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, and our intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value.
Fixed Income Securities
At any time, a sharp rise in interest rates or credit spreads could have a material adverse impact on the fair value of our fixed income investment portfolio. Conversely, declines in interest rates, including the impact from lower credit spreads, could have a material adverse impact on interest income for our investment portfolio. Our fixed income instruments are not leveraged as of January 26, 2008, and are held for purposes other than trading. We monitor our interest rate and credit risks, including our credit exposures to specific rating categories and to individual issuers. There were no impairment charges on our investments in fixed income securities during the first six months of fiscal 2008 or fiscal 2007.
Publicly Traded Equity Securities
The values of our equity investments in several publicly traded companies are subject to market price volatility. The following table presents the hypothetical fair values of publicly traded equity securities as a result of selected potential decreases and increases in the price of each equity security in the portfolio, excluding hedged equity securities. Potential fluctuations in the price of each equity security in the portfolio of plus or minus 10%, 20%, and 30% were selected based on potential near-term changes in those security prices. The hypothetical fair values as of January 26, 2008 are as follows (in millions):

 	  	Valuation of Securities
Given an X% Decrease
in Each Stock’s Price	  	Fair Value
As of
January 26,
2008	  	Valuation of Securities Given
an X% Increase in Each
Stock’s Price	
 	  	    (30%)    	  	    (20%)    	  	    (10%)    	  	 	  	      10%      	  	      20%      	  	      30%      	
Publicly traded equity securities	  	$	996	  	$	1,138	  	$	1,281	  	$	1,423	  	$	1,565	  	$	1,708	  	$	1,850	
Our equity portfolio consists of securities with characteristics that most closely match the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index or NASDAQ Composite Index. These equity securities are held for purposes other than trading. There were no impairment charges on publicly traded equity securities during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 or fiscal 2007.
Investments in Privately Held Companies
We have invested in privately held companies, some of which are in the startup or development stages. These investments are inherently risky because the markets for the technologies or products these companies are developing are typically in the early stages and may never materialize. We could lose our entire initial investment in these companies. These investments are primarily carried at cost, which as of January 26, 2008 was $666 million, compared with $643 million at July 28, 2007, and are recorded in other assets. Our impairment charges on investments in privately held companies were $5 million and $10 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007, respectively, and were $8 million and $14 million during the first six months of fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007, respectively.
Long-Term Debt
At any time, a sharp fall in interest rates could have a material adverse impact on the fair value of $6.0 billion of our fixed-rate debt. Conversely, a sharp rise in interest rates could have a material favorable impact. We have entered into $6.0 billion notional amount of interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges, and gains and losses in the fair value of these swaps offset changes in the fair value of the fixed-rate debt. In effect, these swaps convert the fixed interest rates to floating interest rates based on LIBOR. A sharp change in rates would not have a material impact on the fair value of our $500 million variable-rate debt.
 
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A sharp rise in short-term interest rates could have a material adverse impact on interest expense, while a sharp fall in short-term rates could have a material favorable impact. To mitigate these impacts, we presently invest a portion of our interest-bearing assets in instruments with similar interest rate characteristics as the swapped debt.
Derivative Instruments
Foreign Currency Derivatives
Our foreign exchange forward and option contracts are summarized as follows (in millions):

 	  	January 26, 2008	 	 	July 28, 2007	 	
 	  	Notional
  Amount  	  	Fair
    Value    	 	 	Notional
  Amount  	  	Fair
    Value    	 	
Forward contracts:	  			  				 			  				
Purchased	  	$	1,483	  	$	(3	)	 	$	1,601	  	$	1	 	
Sold	  	$	553	  	$	10	 	 	$	613	  	$	(8	)	
					
Option contracts:	  			  				 			  				
Purchased	  	$	715	  	$	24	 	 	$	652	  	$	24	 	
Sold	  	$	258	  	$	(3	)	 	$	310	  	$	(1	)	
We enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce the short-term effects of foreign currency fluctuations on receivables, investments, and payables, primarily denominated in Australian, Canadian, Japanese, and several European currencies, including the euro and British pound. Our market risks associated with our foreign currency receivables, investments, and payables relate primarily to variances from our forecasted foreign currency transactions and balances.
The effect of foreign currency fluctuations on sales has not been material because our sales are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars. Approximately 70% of our operating expenses are U.S.-dollar denominated. To reduce variability in operating expenses caused by the remaining non-U.S.-dollar denominated operating expenses, we hedge certain foreign currency forecasted transactions with currency options and forward contracts with maturities up to 18 months. These hedging programs are not designed to provide foreign currency protection over longer time horizons. In designing a specific hedging approach, we consider several factors, including offsetting exposures, significance of exposures, costs associated with entering into a particular hedge instrument, and potential effectiveness of the hedge. The gains and losses on foreign exchange contracts mitigate the variability in operating expenses associated with currency movements. Primarily because of our limited currency exposure to date, the effect of foreign currency fluctuations has not been material to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Foreign currency fluctuations, net of hedging, increased total research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses by approximately 3.0% and 2.5% in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, respectively, compared with the corresponding periods of fiscal 2007.
Our foreign exchange forward contracts related to current assets and liabilities generally range from one to three months in original maturity. Additionally, we have entered into foreign exchange forward contracts related to long-term customer financings with maturities of up to two years. The foreign exchange forward contracts related to investments generally have maturities of less than 18 months. We do not enter into foreign exchange forward or option contracts for trading purposes. We do not expect gains or losses on these derivative instruments to have a material effect on our financial results. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Interest Rate Derivatives
Our interest rate derivatives are summarized as follows (in millions):

 	  	January 26, 2008	 	 	July 28, 2007	 	
 	  	Notional
  Amount  	  	Fair
    Value    	 	 	Notional
  Amount  	  	Fair
    Value    	 	
Interest rate swaps, investments	  	$	1,000	  	$	(19	)	 	$	1,000	  	$	29	 	
Interest rate swaps, long-term debt	  	$	6,000	  	$	361	 	 	$	6,000	  	$	(81	)	
Our primary objective for holding fixed income securities is to achieve an appropriate investment return consistent with preserving principal and managing risk. To realize these objectives, we may utilize interest rate swaps or other derivatives designated as fair value or cash flow hedges.
 
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We have entered into $1.0 billion of interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges of our investment portfolio. Under these interest rate swap contracts, we make fixed-rate interest payments and receive interest payments based on LIBOR. The effect of these swaps is to convert fixed-rate returns to floating-rate returns based on LIBOR for a portion of our fixed income portfolio. The gains and losses related to changes in the value of the interest rate swaps are included in other income, net, and offset the changes in fair value of the underlying hedged investment. The fair values of the interest rate swaps designated as hedges of our investments are reflected in prepaid expenses and other current assets or other current liabilities.
In conjunction with our issuance of fixed-rate senior notes in February 2006, we entered into $6.0 billion of interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges of our fixed-rate debt. Under these interest rate swap contracts, we receive fixed-rate interest payments and make interest payments based on LIBOR. The effect of these swaps is to convert fixed-rate interest expense to floating-rate interest expense based on LIBOR. The gains and losses related to changes in the value of the interest rate swaps are included in other income, net, and offset the changes in fair value of the underlying debt. The fair values of the interest rate swaps designated as hedges of our long-term debt are reflected in other assets or other long-term liabilities.
Equity Derivatives
Our equity derivatives are summarized as follows (in millions):

 	  	January 26, 2008	  	July 28, 2007	
 	  	Notional
  Amount  	  	Fair
    Value    	  	Notional
  Amount  	  	Fair
    Value    	
Forward sale agreements	  	$	135	  	$	21	  	$	458	  	$	1	
We maintain a portfolio of publicly traded equity securities which are subject to price risk. We may hold equity securities for strategic purposes or to diversify our overall investment portfolio. To manage our exposure to changes in the fair value of certain equity securities, we may enter into equity derivatives, including forward sale and option agreements. As of January 26, 2008, we have entered into forward sale agreements on certain publicly traded equity securities designated as fair value hedges. The gains and losses due to changes in the value of the hedging instruments are included in other income, net, and offset the change in the fair value of the underlying hedged investment. The fair values of the equity derivatives are reflected in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other current liabilities.
 
 Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures . Based on our management’s evaluation (with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer), as of the end of the period covered by this report, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”)) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting . There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during our second quarter of fiscal 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
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 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
 Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	
We and other defendants were subject to claims asserted by Telcordia Technologies, Inc. on July 16, 2004 in the Federal District Court for the District of Delaware alleging that various Cisco routers, switches and optical products infringed United States Patent Nos. 4,893,306, 4,835,763 and Re 36,633. Telcordia sought damages and injunctive relief. The Court ruled that, as a matter of law, we do not infringe Patent No. 4,893,306. After conclusion of a trial, on May 10, 2007, a jury found that infringement had occurred on the other patents and awarded damages in an amount that is not material to us. We have asked the Court to reverse the verdict as a matter of law, and if necessary, we intend to appeal the decision. Telcordia has asked the Court to enhance damages and award it attorneys’ fees and also has the right to appeal. We believe that the ultimate outcome of this matter and aggregate potential damages will not be material.
Brazilian authorities are investigating certain employees of our Brazilian subsidiary and certain employees of a Brazilian importer of our products relating to the allegation of evading import taxes and other alleged improper transactions involving the subsidiary and the importer. We are conducting a thorough review of the matter. To date, Brazilian authorities have not asserted a claim against us. We are unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome on any potential claims against us or to reasonably estimate a range of loss, if any. In addition, we are investigating the allegations regarding improper transactions and have proactively communicated with United States authorities to provide information and report on our findings.
In addition, we are subject to legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including intellectual property litigation. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, we do not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve these matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. For additional information regarding intellectual property litigation, see “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors—We may be found to infringe on intellectual property rights of others” herein.
 
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 Item 1A.    Risk Factors
Set forth below and elsewhere in this report and in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are descriptions of the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this report. The descriptions below include any material changes to and supersede the description of the risk factors affecting our business previously disclosed in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 28, 2007.
OUR OPERATING RESULTS MAY FLUCTUATE IN FUTURE PERIODS, WHICH MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR STOCK PRICE
Our operating results have been in the past, and will continue to be, subject to quarterly and annual fluctuations as a result of numerous factors. These factors include:
 
 	•	 	Fluctuations in demand for our products and services, especially with respect to Internet businesses and telecommunications service providers, in part due to changes in the global economic environment	
 
 	•	 	Changes in sales and implementation cycles for our products and reduced visibility into our customers’ spending plans and associated revenue	
 
 	•	 	Our ability to maintain appropriate inventory levels and purchase commitments	
 
 	•	 	Price and product competition in the communications and networking industries, which can change rapidly due to technological innovation and different business models from various geographic regions	
 
 	•	 	The overall movement toward industry consolidation among both our competitors and our customers	
 
 	•	 	The introduction and market acceptance of new technologies and products and our success in new markets, including emerging and advanced technologies, as well as the adoption of new networking standards	
 
 	•	 	Variations in sales channels, product costs, or mix of products sold	
 
 	•	 	The timing, size, and mix of orders from customers	
 
 	•	 	Manufacturing and customer lead times	
 
 	•	 	Fluctuations in our gross margins, and the factors that contribute to this as described below	
 
 	•	 	Our ability to achieve targeted cost reductions	
 
 	•	 	The ability of our customers, channel partners, and suppliers to obtain financing or to fund capital expenditures	
 
 	•	 	The timing and amount of employer payroll tax to be paid on our employees’ gains on stock options exercised	
 
 	•	 	Actual events, circumstances, outcomes, and amounts differing from judgments, assumptions, and estimates used in determining the values of certain assets (including the amounts of related valuation allowances), liabilities, and other items reflected in our Consolidated Financial Statements	
 
 	•	 	How well we execute on our strategy and operating plans	
 
 	•	 	Benefits anticipated from our investments in engineering, sales and manufacturing activities	
 
 	•	 	Changes in accounting rules, such as recording expenses for employee stock option grants and tax accounting, including accounting for uncertain tax positions	
As a consequence, operating results for a particular future period are difficult to predict, and, therefore, prior results are not
 
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necessarily indicative of results to be expected in future periods. Any of the foregoing factors, or any other factors discussed elsewhere herein, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition that could adversely affect our stock price.
OUR OPERATING RESULTS MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY UNFAVORABLE ECONOMIC AND MARKET CONDITIONS AND THE UNCERTAIN GEOPOLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
Economic conditions worldwide have from time to time contributed to slowdowns in the communications and networking industries at large, as well as to specific segments and markets in which we operate, resulting in:
 
 	•	 	Reduced demand for our products as a result of continued constraints on information technology-related capital spending by our customers, particularly service providers, and other customer markets as well	
 
 	•	 	Increased price competition for our products, not only from our competitors but also as a consequence of customers disposing of unutilized products	
 
 	•	 	Risk of excess and obsolete inventories	
 
 	•	 	Excess facilities and manufacturing capacity	
 
 	•	 	Higher overhead costs as a percentage of revenue and higher interest expense	
Recent turmoil in the geopolitical environment in many parts of the world and changes in energy costs may continue to put pressure on global economic conditions. Our operating results in one or more segments may also be affected by changing economic conditions particularly germane to that segment or to particular customer markets within that segment, such as the challenges that are currently affecting economic conditions in the United States. If global economic and market conditions, or economic conditions in the United States or other key markets, deteriorate, we may experience material impacts on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
OUR REVENUE FOR A PARTICULAR PERIOD IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT, AND A SHORTFALL IN REVENUE MAY HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS
As a result of a variety of factors discussed in this report, our revenue for a particular quarter is difficult to predict. Our net sales may grow at a slower rate than in past periods, or may decline. Our ability to meet financial expectations could also be adversely affected if the non-linear sales pattern seen in some of our past quarters recurs in future periods. We have experienced periods of time during which shipments have exceeded net bookings, or manufacturing issues have delayed shipments, leading to non-linearity in shipping patterns. In addition to making it difficult to predict revenue for a particular period, non-linearity in shipping can increase costs, because irregular shipment patterns result in periods of underutilized capacity and periods in which overtime expenses may be incurred, as well as leading to additional costs arising out of inventory management. In addition, to the extent that manufacturing issues and any related component shortages result in delayed shipments in the future, and particularly in periods in which we and our contract manufacturers are operating at higher levels of capacity, it is possible that revenue for a quarter could be adversely affected if such matters occur and are not remediated within the same quarter.
The timing of large orders can also have a significant effect on our business and operating results from quarter to quarter, primarily in our Emerging Markets theater and other emerging countries. From time to time, we receive large orders that have a significant effect on our operating results in the period in which the order is recognized as revenue. The timing of such orders is difficult to predict and the timing of revenue recognition from such orders may affect period to period changes in net sales. As a result, our operating results could vary materially from quarter to quarter based on the receipt of such orders and their ultimate recognition as revenue.
In addition, to improve customer satisfaction, we continue to attempt to improve our manufacturing lead-time performance, which may result in corresponding reductions in order backlog. A decline in backlog levels could result in more variability and less predictability in our quarter-to-quarter net sales and operating results. Long manufacturing lead times have caused our customers in the past to place the same order multiple times within our various sales channels and to cancel the duplicative orders upon receipt of the product, or to place orders with other vendors with shorter manufacturing lead times. Such multiple ordering (along with other factors) may cause difficulty in predicting our sales and, as a result, could impair our ability to manage parts inventory effectively.
We plan our operating expense levels based primarily on forecasted revenue levels. These expenses and the impact of long-term commitments are relatively fixed in the short term. A shortfall in revenue could lead to operating results being below expectations because we may not be able to quickly reduce these fixed expenses in response to short-term business changes.
 
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Any of the above factors could have a material adverse impact on our operations and financial results.
WE EXPECT GROSS MARGIN TO VARY OVER TIME, AND OUR LEVEL OF PRODUCT GROSS MARGIN MAY NOT BE SUSTAINABLE
Our level of product gross margins may not be sustainable and may continue to be adversely affected by numerous factors, including:
 
 	•	 	Changes in customer, geographic, or product mix, including mix of configurations within each product group	
 
 	•	 	Introduction of new products, including products with price-performance advantages	
 
 	•	 	Our ability to reduce production costs	
 
 	•	 	Entry into new markets, including markets with different pricing and cost structures, through acquisitions, such as our acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta, or internal development	
 
 	•	 	Sales discounts	
 
 	•	 	Increases in material or labor costs	
 
 	•	 	Excess inventory and inventory holding charges	
 
 	•	 	Obsolescence charges	
 
 	•	 	Changes in shipment volume	
 
 	•	 	The timing of revenue recognition and revenue deferrals	
 
 	•	 	Loss of cost savings due to changes in component pricing or charges incurred due to inventory holding periods if parts ordering does not correctly anticipate product demand	
 
 	•	 	Lower than expected benefits from value engineering	
 
 	•	 	Increased price competition, including competitors from Asia, especially China	
 
 	•	 	Changes in distribution channels	
 
 	•	 	Increased warranty costs	
 
 	•	 	How well we execute on our strategy and operating plans	
Changes in service gross margin may result from various factors such as changes in the mix between technical support services and advanced services, as well as the timing of technical support service contract initiations and renewals and the addition of personnel and other resources to support higher levels of service business in future periods.
DISRUPTION OF OR CHANGES IN OUR DISTRIBUTION MODEL COULD HARM OUR SALES AND MARGINS
If we fail to manage distribution of our products and services properly, or if our distributors’ financial condition or operations weaken, our revenue and gross margins could be adversely affected.
A substantial portion of our products and services is sold through our channel partners and the remainder is sold through direct sales. Our channel partners include systems integrators, service providers, other resellers, distributors, and retail partners. Systems integrators and service providers typically sell directly to end users and often provide system installation, technical support, professional services, and other support services in addition to network equipment sales. Systems integrators also typically integrate our products into an overall solution, and a number of service providers are also systems integrators. Distributors stock inventory and typically sell to systems integrators, service providers, and other resellers. In addition, home networking products are generally sold through distributors and retail partners. We refer to sales through distributors and retail partners as our two-tier system of sales to the end customer. Revenue from distributors and retail partners is recognized based on a sell-through method using information provided by them. These distributors and retail partners are generally given business terms that allow them to return a portion of inventory, receive credits for changes in selling prices, and participate in various cooperative marketing programs. If sales through indirect channels increase, this may lead to greater difficulty in forecasting the mix of our products and, to a degree, the timing of orders from our customers.
 
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Historically, we have seen fluctuations in our gross margins based on changes in the balance of our distribution channels. Although variability to date has not been significant, there can be no assurance that changes in the balance of our distribution model in future periods would not have an adverse effect on our gross margins and profitability.
Some factors could result in disruption of or changes in our distribution model, which could harm our sales and margins, including the following:
 
 	•	 	We compete with some of our channel partners through our direct sales, which may lead these channel partners to use other suppliers that do not directly sell their own products	
 
 	•	 	Some of our channel partners may demand that we absorb a greater share of the risks that their customers may ask them to bear	
 
 	•	 	Some of our channel partners may have insufficient financial resources and may not be able to withstand changes in business conditions	
In addition, we depend on our channel partners globally to comply with applicable regulatory requirements. To the extent that they fail to do so, that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
OUR INVENTORY MANAGEMENT RELATING TO OUR SALES TO OUR TWO-TIER DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL IS COMPLEX, AND EXCESS INVENTORY MAY HARM OUR GROSS MARGINS
We must manage our inventory relating to sales to our distributors and retail partners effectively, because inventory held by them could affect our results of operations. Our distributors and retail partners may increase orders during periods of product shortages, cancel orders if their inventory is too high, or delay orders in anticipation of new products. They also may adjust their orders in response to the supply of our products and the products of our competitors that are available to them and in response to seasonal fluctuations in end-user demand. Revenue to our distributors and retail partners is recognized based on a sell-through method using information provided by them, and they are generally given business terms that allow them to return a portion of inventory, receive credits for changes in selling price, and participate in various cooperative marketing programs. Inventory management remains an area of focus as we balance the need to maintain strategic inventory levels to ensure competitive lead times against the risk of inventory obsolescence because of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements. If we ultimately determine that we have excess inventory, we may have to reduce our prices and write down inventory, which in turn could result in lower gross margins.
SALES TO THE SERVICE PROVIDER MARKET ARE ESPECIALLY VOLATILE, AND WEAKNESS IN SALES ORDERS FROM THIS INDUSTRY MAY HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
Sales to the service provider market have been characterized by large and sporadic purchases, especially relating to our router sales and sales of certain of our advanced technologies, in addition to longer sales cycles. In the past, we have experienced significant weakness in sales to service providers over certain extended periods of time as market conditions have fluctuated. Sales activity in this industry depends upon the stage of completion of expanding network infrastructures; the availability of funding; and the extent to which service providers are affected by regulatory, economic, and business conditions in the country of operations. Weakness in orders from this industry could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Orders from this industry could decline for many reasons other than the competitiveness of our products and services within their respective markets. For example, in the past, many of our service provider customers have been materially and adversely affected by slowdowns in the general economy, overcapacity, changes in the service provider market, regulatory developments, and constraints on capital availability, resulting in business failures and substantial reductions in spending and expansion plans. These conditions have materially harmed our business and operating results in the past, and some of these or other conditions in the service provider market could affect our business and operating results in any future period. Finally, service provider customers typically have longer implementation cycles; require a broader range of services, including design services; demand that vendors take on a larger share of risks; often require acceptance provisions, which can lead to a delay in revenue recognition; and expect financing from vendors. All these factors can add further risk to business conducted with service providers.
A SHORTAGE OF ADEQUATE COMPONENT SUPPLY OR MANUFACTURING CAPACITY COULD INCREASE OUR COSTS OR CAUSE A DELAY IN OUR ABILITY TO FULFILL ORDERS, AND OUR FAILURE TO ESTIMATE CUSTOMER DEMAND PROPERLY MAY RESULT IN EXCESS OR OBSOLETE COMPONENT SUPPLY, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR GROSS MARGINS
 
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Our growth and ability to meet customer demands depend in part on our ability to obtain timely deliveries of parts from our suppliers and contract manufacturers. We have experienced component shortages in the past, including shortages caused by manufacturing process issues, that have affected our operations. We may in the future experience a shortage of certain component parts as a result of our own manufacturing issues, manufacturing issues at our suppliers or contract manufacturers, capacity problems experienced by our suppliers or contract manufacturers, or strong demand in the industry for those parts, especially if the economy grows. Growth in the economy is likely to create greater pressures on us and our suppliers to accurately project overall component demand and component demands within specific product categories and to establish optimal component levels. If shortages or delays persist, the price of these components may increase, or the components may not be available at all, and we may also encounter shortages if we do not accurately anticipate our needs. We may not be able to secure enough components at reasonable prices or of acceptable quality to build new products in a timely manner in the quantities or configurations needed. Accordingly, our revenue and gross margins could suffer until other sources can be developed. Our operating results would also be adversely affected if, anticipating greater demand than actually develops, we commit to the purchase of more components than we need. There can be no assurance that we will not encounter these problems in the future. Although in many cases we use standard parts and components for our products, certain components are presently available only from a single source or limited sources. We may not be able to diversify sources in a timely manner, which could harm our ability to deliver products to customers and seriously impact present and future sales.
We believe that we may be faced with the following challenges in the future:
 
 	•	 	New markets in which we participate may grow quickly, which may make it difficult to quickly obtain significant component capacity	
 
 	•	 	As we acquire companies and new technologies, we may be dependent, at least initially, on unfamiliar supply chains or relatively small supply partners	
 
 	•	 	We face competition for certain components, which are supply-constrained, from existing competitors and companies in other markets	
Manufacturing capacity and component supply constraints, including those caused by any possible disruption related to our recently completed implementation of the lean manufacturing model, could be significant issues for us. We purchase components from a variety of suppliers and use several contract manufacturers to provide manufacturing services for our products. During the normal course of business, in order to improve manufacturing lead-time performance and to help ensure adequate component supply, we enter into agreements with contract manufacturers and suppliers that either allow them to procure inventory based upon criteria as defined by us or that establish the parameters defining our requirements. In certain instances, these agreements allow us the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust our requirements based on our business needs prior to firm orders being placed. If we fail to anticipate customer demand properly, an oversupply of parts could result in excess or obsolete components that could adversely affect our gross margins. For additional information regarding our purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers, see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
A reduction or interruption in supply; a significant increase in the price of one or more components; a failure to adequately authorize procurement of inventory by our contract manufacturers; a failure to appropriately cancel, reschedule, or adjust our requirements based on our business needs; or a decrease in demand for our products could materially adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition and could materially damage customer relationships. Furthermore, as a result of binding price or purchase commitments with suppliers, we may be obligated to purchase components at prices that are higher than those available in the current market. In the event that we become committed to purchase components at prices in excess of the current market price when the components are actually used, our gross margins could decrease.
The fact that we do not own the bulk of our manufacturing facilities could have an adverse impact on the supply of our products and on our operating results. Financial problems of contract manufacturers on whom we rely, or reservation of manufacturing capacity by other companies, inside or outside of our industry, could either limit supply or increase costs.
Our key manufacturing facilities for Scientific-Atlanta’s products are located in Juarez, Mexico, and we may be materially and adversely affected by any prolonged disruption in the operation of this facility.
THE MARKETS IN WHICH WE COMPETE ARE INTENSELY COMPETITIVE, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR REVENUE GROWTH
The markets in which we compete are characterized by rapid change, converging technologies, and a migration to networking solutions that offer relative advantages. These market factors represent a competitive threat to us. We compete with numerous vendors in each product category. The overall number of our competitors providing niche product solutions may increase. Also, the identity and composition of competitors may change as we increase our activity in our advanced technology markets. As we continue to expand globally, we may see new competition in different geographic regions. In particular, we have experienced price-focused competition from competitors in Asia, especially China, and we anticipate this will continue.
 
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Our competitors include : Alcatel-Lucent; ARRIS Group, Inc.; Aruba Networks, Inc.; Avaya Inc.; Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.; CheckPoint Software Technologies Ltd.; D-Link Corporation; LM Ericsson Telephone Company; Extreme Networks, Inc.; F5 Networks, Inc.; Force10 Networks, Inc.; Fortinet Inc.; Foundry Networks Inc.; Hewlett-Packard Company; Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd; International Business Machines Corporation; Juniper Networks, Inc.; Meru Networks, Inc.; Microsoft Corporation; Motorola, Inc.; NETGEAR, Inc.; Nortel Networks Corporation; Riverbed Technology, Inc.; Symantec Corporation; and Trapeze Networks, Inc., among others.
Some of these companies compete across many of our product lines, while others are primarily focused in a specific product area.
Barriers to entry are relatively low, and new ventures to create products that do or could compete with our products are regularly formed. In addition, some of our competitors may have greater resources, including technical and engineering resources, than we do. As we expand into new markets, we will face competition not only from our existing competitors but also from other competitors, including existing companies with strong technological, marketing, and sales positions in those markets. We also sometimes face competition from resellers and distributors of our products. Companies with whom we have strategic alliances in some areas may be competitors in other areas.
The principal competitive factors in the markets in which we presently compete and may compete in the future include:
 
 	•	 	The ability to provide a broad range of networking products and services	
 
 	•	 	Product performance	
 
 	•	 	Price	
 
 	•	 	The ability to introduce new products, including products with price-performance advantages	
 
 	•	 	The ability to reduce production costs	
 
 	•	 	The ability to provide value-added features such as security, reliability, and investment protection	
 
 	•	 	Conformance to standards	
 
 	•	 	Market presence	
 
 	•	 	The ability to provide financing	
We also face competition from customers to whom we license or supply technology and suppliers from whom we transfer technology. The inherent nature of networking requires interoperability. As such, we must cooperate and at the same time compete with many companies. Any inability to effectively manage these complicated relationships with customers, suppliers, and strategic alliance partners could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition and accordingly affect our chances of success.
WE DEPEND UPON THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRODUCTS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING PRODUCTS, AND IF WE FAIL TO PREDICT AND RESPOND TO EMERGING TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS AND CUSTOMERS’ CHANGING NEEDS, OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND MARKET SHARE MAY SUFFER
The markets for our products are characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, new product introductions, and evolving methods of building and operating networks. Our operating results depend on our ability to develop and introduce new products into existing and emerging markets and to reduce the production costs of existing products. We believe the industry is evolving to enable personal and business process collaboration enabled by networked Web 2.0, the technologies that enable user collaboration, as part of the second major phase of the Internet. As such, many of our strategic initiatives and investments are aimed at meeting the requirements that a network capable of multiple party, collaborative interaction would demand, and the investments we have made and our architectural approach are designed to enable networked Web 2.0 and the increased use of the network as the platform for all forms of communications and information technology. The process of developing new technology is complex and uncertain, and if we fail to accurately predict customers’ changing needs and emerging technological trends our business could be harmed. We must commit significant resources to developing new products before knowing whether our investments will result in products the market will accept. In particular, if our model of the evolution of networking to collaborative systems does not emerge as we believe it will, or if the industry does not evolve as we believe it will, many of our strategic initiatives and investments may be of no or limited value. Furthermore, we may not execute successfully on that vision because of errors in product planning or
 
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timing, technical hurdles that we fail to overcome in a timely fashion, or a lack of appropriate resources. This could result in competitors providing those solutions before we do and loss of market share, net sales, and earnings. The success of new products depends on several factors, including proper new product definition, component costs, timely completion and introduction of these products, differentiation of new products from those of our competitors, and market acceptance of these products. There can be no assurance that we will successfully identify new product opportunities, develop and bring new products to market in a timely manner, or achieve market acceptance of our products or that products and technologies developed by others will not render our products or technologies obsolete or non-competitive. Specifically, the products and technologies that we identify as “emerging technologies,” such as our Cisco TelePresence products, or “advanced technologies” may not prove to have the market success we anticipate, and we may not successfully identify and invest in other emerging or advanced technologies.
WE ARE INCREASING OUR INVESTMENT IN ENGINEERING, SALES, SERVICE AND MANUFACTURING ACTIVITIES AND THESE INVESTMENTS MAY ACHIEVE DELAYED, OR LOWER THAN EXPECTED, BENEFITS WHICH COULD HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS
We intend to continue to add personnel and other resources to our engineering, sales, service, and manufacturing functions as we focus on developing emerging technologies, the next wave of advanced technologies, growing the commercial market segment, capitalizing on our emerging market opportunities, enhancing our evolving support model and increasing our market share gains. We are likely to recognize the costs associated with these investments earlier than some of the anticipated benefits, and the return on these investments may be lower, or may develop more slowly, than we expect. If we do not achieve the benefits anticipated from these investments, or if the achievement of these benefits is delayed, our operating results may be adversely affected.
OUR BUSINESS SUBSTANTIALLY DEPENDS UPON THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE INTERNET AND INTERNET-BASED SYSTEMS
A substantial portion of our business and revenue depends on growth and evolution of the Internet, including the continued development of networked Web 2.0 as part of the second major phase of the Internet, and on the deployment of our products by customers who depend on such continued growth and evolution. To the extent that an economic slowdown and reduction in capital spending adversely affect spending on Internet infrastructure, we could experience material harm to our business, operating results, and financial condition.
Because of the rapid introduction of new products and changing customer requirements related to matters such as cost-effectiveness and security, we believe that there could be performance problems with Internet communications in the future, which could receive a high degree of publicity and visibility. Because we are a large supplier of networking products, our business, operating results, and financial condition may be materially adversely affected, regardless of whether or not these problems are due to the performance of our own products. Such an event could also result in a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock independent of direct effects on our business.
CHANGES IN INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND MARKET CONDITIONS COULD LEAD TO CHARGES RELATED TO DISCONTINUANCES OF CERTAIN OF OUR PRODUCTS OR BUSINESSES AND ASSET IMPAIRMENTS
In response to changes in industry and market conditions, we may be required to strategically realign our resources and consider restructuring, disposing of, or otherwise exiting businesses. Any decision to limit investment in or dispose of or otherwise exit businesses may result in the recording of special charges, such as inventory and technology-related write-offs, workforce reduction costs, charges relating to consolidation of excess facilities, or claims from third parties who were resellers or users of discontinued products. Our estimates with respect to the useful life or ultimate recoverability of our carrying basis of assets, including purchased intangible assets, could change as a result of such assessments and decisions. Further, our estimates relating to the liabilities for excess facilities are affected by changes in real estate market conditions. Additionally, we are required to perform goodwill impairment tests on an annual basis and between annual tests in certain circumstances, and future goodwill impairment tests may result in a charge to earnings.
WE HAVE MADE AND EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE ACQUISITIONS THAT COULD DISRUPT OUR OPERATIONS AND HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS
Our growth depends upon market growth, our ability to enhance our existing products, and our ability to introduce new products on a timely basis. We intend to continue to address the need to develop new products and enhance existing products through acquisitions of other companies, product lines, technologies, and personnel. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including the following:
 
 	•	 	Difficulties in integrating the operations, systems, technologies, products, and personnel of the acquired companies, particularly companies with large and widespread operations and/or complex products, such as Scientific-Atlanta and WebEx	
 
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 	•	 	Diversion of management’s attention from normal daily operations of the business and the challenges of managing larger and more widespread operations resulting from acquisitions	
 
 	•	 	Potential difficulties in completing projects associated with in-process research and development	
 
 	•	 	Difficulties in entering markets in which we have no or limited direct prior experience and where competitors in such markets have stronger market positions	
 
 	•	 	Initial dependence on unfamiliar supply chains or relatively small supply partners	
 
 	•	 	Insufficient revenue to offset increased expenses associated with acquisitions	
 
 	•	 	The potential loss of key employees, customers, distributors, vendors and other business partners of the companies we acquire following and continuing after announcement of acquisition plans	
Acquisitions may also cause us to:
 
 	•	 	Issue common stock that would dilute our current shareholders’ percentage ownership	
 
 	•	 	Use a substantial portion of our cash resources, as we did in connection with our acquisitions of WebEx and IronPort, or incur debt as we did in February 2006, when we issued and sold $6.5 billion in senior unsecured notes to fund our acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta	
 
 	•	 	Significantly increase our interest expense, leverage and debt service requirements if we incur additional debt to pay for an acquisition	
 
 	•	 	Assume liabilities	
 
 	•	 	Record goodwill and non-amortizable intangible assets that are subject to impairment testing on a regular basis and potential periodic impairment charges	
 
 	•	 	Incur amortization expenses related to certain intangible assets	
 
 	•	 	Incur tax expenses related to the post-acquisition integration of purchased intangible assets into our intercompany R&D cost sharing arrangement	
 
 	•	 	Incur large and immediate write-offs and restructuring and other related expenses	
 
 	•	 	Become subject to intellectual property or other litigation	
Mergers and acquisitions of high-technology companies are inherently risky and subject to many factors outside of our control, and no assurance can be given that our previous or future acquisitions will be successful and will not materially adversely affect our business, operating results, or financial condition. Failure to manage and successfully integrate acquisitions could materially harm our business and operating results. Prior acquisitions have resulted in a wide range of outcomes, from successful introduction of new products and technologies to a failure to do so. Even when an acquired company has already developed and marketed products, there can be no assurance that product enhancements will be made in a timely fashion or that preacquisition due diligence will have identified all possible issues that might arise with respect to such products.
From time to time, we have made acquisitions that resulted in in-process research and development expenses being charged in an individual quarter. These charges may occur in any particular quarter, resulting in variability in our quarterly earnings. In addition, our effective tax rate for future periods is uncertain, and could be impacted by mergers and acquisitions. Risks related to new product development also apply to acquisitions. Please see the risk factors above, including the risk factor entitled “We depend upon the development of new products and enhancements to existing products, and if we fail to predict and respond to emerging technological trends and customers’ changing needs, our operating results and market share may suffer” for additional information.
ENTRANCE INTO NEW OR DEVELOPING MARKETS EXPOSES US TO ADDITIONAL COMPETITION AND WILL LIKELY INCREASE DEMANDS ON OUR SERVICE AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
As we focus on new market opportunities—for example, storage; wireless; security; and transporting data, voice, and video traffic across the same network, and other advanced technologies and emerging technologies —we will increasingly compete with large telecommunications equipment suppliers as well as startup companies. Several of our competitors may have greater resources, including technical and engineering resources, than we do. Additionally, as customers in these markets complete infrastructure deployments, they may require greater levels of service, support, and financing than we have provided in the past, especially in the Emerging Markets theater. Demand for these types of service, support or financing contracts may increase in the future. There can be no assurance that we can provide products, service, support, and financing to effectively compete for these market opportunities. Further, provision of greater levels of services, support and financing by us may result in a delay in the timing of revenue recognition. In addition, entry into other markets, including our entry into the consumer market, has subjected and will subject us to additional risks, particularly to those markets, including the effects of general market conditions and reduced consumer confidence.
 
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PRODUCT QUALITY PROBLEMS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED REVENUE, GROSS MARGINS, AND NET INCOME
We produce highly complex products that incorporate leading-edge technology, including both hardware and software. Software typically contains bugs that can unexpectedly interfere with expected operations. There can be no assurance that our preshipment testing programs will be adequate to detect all defects, either ones in individual products or ones that could affect numerous shipments, which might interfere with customer satisfaction, reduce sales opportunities, or affect gross margins. In the past, we have had to replace certain components and provide remediation in response to the discovery of defects or bugs in products that we had shipped. Although the cost of such remediation has not been material in the past, there can be no assurance that such a remediation, depending on the product involved, would not have a material impact. An inability to cure a product defect could result in the failure of a product line, temporary or permanent withdrawal from a product or market, damage to our reputation, inventory costs, or product reengineering expenses, any of which could have a material impact on our revenue, margins, and net income.
INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION MAY LEAD TO INCREASED COMPETITION AND MAY HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS
There has been a trend toward industry consolidation in our markets for several years. We expect this trend to continue as companies attempt to strengthen or hold their market positions in an evolving industry and as companies are acquired or are unable to continue operations. We believe that industry consolidation may result in stronger competitors that are better able to compete as sole-source vendors for customers. This could lead to more variability in our operating results and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Furthermore, particularly in the service provider market, rapid consolidation will lead to fewer customers, with the effect that loss of a major customer could have a material impact on results not anticipated in a customer marketplace composed of more numerous participants.
DUE TO THE GLOBAL NATURE OF OUR OPERATIONS, POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC CHANGES OR OTHER FACTORS IN A SPECIFIC COUNTRY OR REGION COULD HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
We conduct significant sales and customer support operations in countries outside of the United States; maintain a manufacturing facility for a substantial portion of our video systems products in Juarez, Mexico; and also depend on non-U.S. operations of our contract manufacturers and our distribution partners. Recently our Emerging Markets theater has been a relatively fast growing theater and we have announced plans to expand our commitments and growth expectations in this theater. As such, our growth depends in part on our continuing to increase sales into this theater. We also intend to expand our level of business activity in two large emerging countries, India and China, and our growth in the Asia Pacific theater will also depend in part upon our continuing to increase sales in these countries. Our future results could be materially adversely affected by a variety of factors relating to our operations outside the United States, any or all of which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition, including, among others, foreign currency exchange rates; political or social unrest, economic instability or natural disasters in a specific country or region; environmental and trade protection measures and other legal and regulatory requirements, some of which may affect our ability to import our products to, export our products from, or sell our products in various countries; political considerations that affect service provider and government spending patterns; health or similar issues, such as a pandemic or epidemic; difficulties in staffing and managing international operations; and adverse tax consequences, including imposition of withholding or other taxes on payments by subsidiaries.
WE ARE EXPOSED TO THE CREDIT RISK OF SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND TO CREDIT EXPOSURES IN WEAKENED MARKETS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN MATERIAL LOSSES
Most of our sales are on an open credit basis, with typical payment terms of 30 days in the United States and, because of local customs or conditions, longer in some markets outside the United States. We monitor individual customer payment capability in granting such open credit arrangements, seek to limit such open credit to amounts we believe the customers can pay, and maintain reserves we believe are adequate to cover exposure for doubtful accounts. Beyond our open credit arrangements, we have also experienced demands for customer financing and facilitation of leasing arrangements. We expect demand for customer financing to continue. We
 
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believe customer financing is a competitive factor in obtaining business, particularly in supplying customers involved in significant infrastructure projects. Our loan financing arrangements may include not only financing the acquisition of our products and services but also providing additional funds for other costs associated with network installation and integration of our products and services and for working capital purposes.
Our exposure to the credit risks relating to our financing activities described above may increase if there is an economic slowdown. Although we have programs in place that are designed to monitor and mitigate the associated risk, including monitoring of particular risks in certain geographic areas, there can be no assurance that such programs will be effective in reducing our credit risks. There have been significant bankruptcies among customers both on open credit and with loan or lease financing arrangements, particularly among Internet businesses and service providers, causing us to incur economic or financial losses. There can be no assurance that additional losses will not be incurred. Although these losses have not been material to date, future losses, if incurred, could harm our business and have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. A portion of our sales is derived through our distributors and retail partners. These distributors and retail partners are generally given business terms that allow them to return a portion of inventory, receive credits for changes in selling prices, and participate in various cooperative marketing programs. We maintain estimated accruals and allowances for such business terms. However, distributors tend to have more limited financial resources than other resellers and end-user customers and therefore represent potential sources of increased credit risk because they may be more likely to lack the reserve resources to meet payment obligations. Additionally, to the degree that the recent turmoil in the credit markets makes it more difficult for some customers to obtain financing, those customers’ ability to pay could be adversely impacted, which in turn could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition.
WE ARE EXPOSED TO FLUCTUATIONS IN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES THAT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS AND CASH FLOWS
Because a significant portion of our business is conducted outside the United States, we face exposure to adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates. These exposures may change over time as business practices evolve, and they could have a material adverse impact on our financial results and cash flows. Historically, our primary exposures have related to non-dollar-denominated sales in Japan, Canada, and Australia and certain non-dollar-denominated operating expenses in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, where we sell primarily in U.S. dollars. Additionally, we have exposures to emerging market currencies, which can have extreme currency volatility. An increase in the value of the dollar could increase the real cost to our customers of our products in those markets outside the United States where we sell in dollars, and a weakened dollar could increase the cost of local operating expenses and procurement of raw materials to the extent that we must purchase components in foreign currencies.
Currently, we enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce the short-term impact of foreign currency fluctuations on certain foreign currency receivables, investments, and payables. In addition, we periodically hedge anticipated foreign currency cash flows. Our attempts to hedge against these risks may not be successful, resulting in an adverse impact on our net income.
OUR PROPRIETARY RIGHTS MAY PROVE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE
We generally rely on patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secret laws to establish and maintain proprietary rights in our technology and products. Although we have been issued numerous patents and other patent applications are currently pending, there can be no assurance that any of these patents or other proprietary rights will not be challenged, invalidated, or circumvented or that our rights will, in fact, provide competitive advantages to us. Furthermore, many key aspects of networking technology are governed by industrywide standards, which are usable by all market entrants. In addition, there can be no assurance that patents will be issued from pending applications or that claims allowed on any patents will be sufficiently broad to protect our technology. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries may not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. The outcome of any actions taken in these foreign countries may be different than if such actions were determined under the laws of the United States. Although we are not dependent on any individual patents or group of patents for particular segments of the business for which we compete, if we are unable to protect our proprietary rights to the totality of the features (including aspects of products protected other than by patent rights) in a market, we may find ourselves at a competitive disadvantage to others who need not incur the substantial expense, time, and effort required to create innovative products that have enabled us to be successful.
WE MAY BE FOUND TO INFRINGE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF OTHERS
Third parties, including customers, have in the past and may in the future assert claims or initiate litigation related to exclusive patent, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights to technologies and related standards that are relevant to us. These assertions have increased over time as a result of our growth and the general increase in the pace of patent claims assertions, particularly in the United States. Because of the existence of a large number of patents in the networking field, the secrecy of some pending patents, and the rapid rate of issuance of new patents, it is not economically practical or even possible to determine in advance whether a product or any of its components infringes or will infringe on the patent rights of others. The asserted claims and/or initiated litigation can include claims against us or our manufacturers, suppliers, or customers, alleging infringement of their proprietary rights with respect to our existing or future products or components of those products. Regardless of the merit of these claims, they can be time-consuming, result in costly litigation and diversion of technical and management personnel, or require us to develop a non-infringing
 
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technology or enter into license agreements. Where claims are made by customers, resistance even to unmeritorious claims could damage customer relationships. There can be no assurance that licenses will be available on acceptable terms and conditions, if at all, or that our indemnification by our suppliers will be adequate to cover our costs if a claim were brought directly against us or our customers. Furthermore, because of the potential for high court awards that are not necessarily predictable, it is not unusual to find even arguably unmeritorious claims settled for significant amounts. If any infringement or other intellectual property claim made against us by any third party is successful, if we are required to indemnify a customer with respect to a claim against the customer, or if we fail to develop non-infringing technology or license the proprietary rights on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
Our exposure to risks associated with the use of intellectual property may be increased as a result of acquisitions, as we have a lower level of visibility into the development process with respect to such technology or the care taken to safeguard against infringement risks. Further, in the past, third parties have made infringement and similar claims after we have acquired technology that had not been asserted prior to our acquisition.
WE RELY ON THE AVAILABILITY OF THIRD-PARTY LICENSES
Many of our products are designed to include software or other intellectual property licensed from third parties. It may be necessary in the future to seek or renew licenses relating to various aspects of these products. There can be no assurance that the necessary licenses would be available on acceptable terms, if at all. The inability to obtain certain licenses or other rights or to obtain such licenses or rights on favorable terms, or the need to engage in litigation regarding these matters, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Moreover, the inclusion in our products of software or other intellectual property licensed from third parties on a non-exclusive basis could limit our ability to protect our proprietary rights in our products.
OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS COULD BE MATERIALLY HARMED BY UNCERTAINTIES OF REGULATION OF THE INTERNET
Currently, few laws or regulations apply directly to access or commerce on the Internet. We could be materially adversely affected by regulation of the Internet and Internet commerce in any country where we operate. Such regulations could include matters such as voice over the Internet or using IP, encryption technology, sales taxes on Internet product sales, and access charges for Internet service providers. The adoption of regulation of the Internet and Internet commerce could decrease demand for our products and, at the same time, increase the cost of selling our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
CHANGES IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION AND TARIFFS COULD HARM OUR PROSPECTS AND FUTURE SALES
Changes in telecommunications requirements, or regulatory requirements in other industries in which we operate, in the United States or other countries could affect the sales of our products. In particular, we believe that there may be future changes in U.S. telecommunications regulations that could slow the expansion of the service providers’ network infrastructures and materially adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition.
Future changes in tariffs by regulatory agencies or application of tariff requirements to currently untariffed services could affect the sales of our products for certain classes of customers. Additionally, in the United States, our products must comply with various Federal Communications Commission requirements and regulations. In countries outside of the United States, our products must meet various requirements of local telecommunications authorities. Changes in tariffs or failure by us to obtain timely approval of products could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
FAILURE TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT KEY PERSONNEL WOULD HARM OUR ABILITY TO MEET KEY OBJECTIVES
Our success has always depended in large part on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled technical, managerial, sales, and marketing personnel. Competition for these personnel is intense, especially in the Silicon Valley area of Northern California. Stock option grants are designed to reward employees for their long-term contributions and provide incentives for them to remain with us. Volatility, lack of positive performance in our stock price, or changes to our overall compensation program, including our stock incentive program, resulting from the adoption of SFAS 123(R) or otherwise, may also adversely affect our ability to retain key employees. As a result of one or more of these factors, we may increase our hiring in geographic areas outside the United States, which could subject us to additional geopolitical and exchange rate risk. The loss of services of any of our key personnel, the inability to retain and attract qualified personnel in the future, or delays in hiring required personnel, particularly engineering and sales personnel, could make it difficult to meet key objectives, such as timely and effective product introductions. In addition, companies in the networking industry whose employees accept positions with competitors frequently claim that competitors have engaged in improper hiring practices. We have received these claims in the past and may receive additional claims to this effect in the future.
 
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ADVERSE RESOLUTION OF LITIGATION OR GOVERNMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS MAY HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS OR FINANCIAL CONDITION
We are a party to lawsuits in the normal course of our business. Litigation can be expensive, lengthy, and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict. In addition, Brazilian authorities are investigating certain employees of our Brazilian subsidiary and certain employees of a Brazilian importer of our products relating to the allegation of evading import taxes and other alleged improper transactions involving the subsidiary and the importer. We are conducting a thorough review of the matter. To date, Brazilian authorities have not asserted a claim against us. In addition, we are investigating the allegations regarding improper transactions and have proactively communicated with United States authorities to provide information and report on our findings. An unfavorable resolution of a particular lawsuit or governmental investigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, or financial condition. For additional information regarding certain of the matters in which we are involved, see Item 1, “Legal Proceedings,” contained in Part II of this report.
CHANGES IN OUR PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES OR ADVERSE OUTCOMES RESULTING FROM EXAMINATION OF OUR INCOME TAX RETURNS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS
Our provision for income taxes is subject to volatility and could be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries which have lower tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries which have higher tax rates; by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities; by expiration of or lapses in the R&D tax credit laws; by transfer pricing adjustments including the post-acquisition integration of purchased intangible assets from certain acquisitions into our intercompany R&D cost sharing arrangement; by tax effects of share-based compensation; by costs related to intercompany restructurings; or by changes in tax laws, regulations, accounting principles, including accounting for uncertain tax positions, or interpretations thereof. Significant judgment will be required to determine the recognition and measurement attribute prescribed in FIN 48. In addition, FIN 48 applies to all income tax positions, including the potential recovery of previously paid taxes, which if settled unfavorably could adversely impact our provision for income taxes or additional paid-in capital. Further, as a result of certain of our ongoing employment and capital investment actions and commitments, our income in certain countries is subject to reduced tax rates, and in some cases is wholly exempt from tax. Our failure to meet these commitments could adversely impact our provision for income taxes. In addition, we are subject to the continuous examination of our income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these continuous examinations will not have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.
OUR BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS ARE ESPECIALLY SUBJECT TO THE RISKS OF EARTHQUAKES, FLOODS, AND OTHER NATURAL CATASTROPHIC EVENTS
Our corporate headquarters, including certain of our research and development operations and our manufacturing facilities, are located in the Silicon Valley area of Northern California, a region known for seismic activity. Additionally, a certain number of our facilities, including one of our manufacturing facilities, are located near rivers that have experienced flooding in the past. A significant natural disaster, such as an earthquake, a hurricane, or a flood, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
MAN-MADE PROBLEMS SUCH AS COMPUTER VIRUSES OR TERRORISM MAY DISRUPT OUR OPERATIONS AND HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS
Despite our implementation of network security measures, our servers are vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins, and similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems. Any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Efforts to limit the ability of malicious third parties to disrupt the operations of the Internet or undermine our own security efforts may meet with resistance. In addition, the continued threat of terrorism and heightened security and military action in response to this threat, or any future acts of terrorism, may cause further disruptions to the economies of the United States and other countries and create further uncertainties or otherwise materially harm our business, operating results, and financial condition. Likewise, events such as widespread blackouts could have similar negative impacts. To the extent that such disruptions or uncertainties result in delays or cancellations of customer orders or the manufacture or shipment of our products, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
WE ARE EXPOSED TO FLUCTUATIONS IN THE MARKET VALUES OF OUR PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS AND IN INTEREST RATES; IMPAIRMENT OF OUR INVESTMENTS COULD HARM OUR EARNINGS
We maintain an investment portfolio of various holdings, types, and maturities. These securities are generally classified as available-for-sale and, consequently, are recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. Our portfolio includes fixed income securities and equity investments in publicly traded companies, the values of which are subject to market price volatility to the extent unhedged. If the market price declines, we may recognize in earnings the decline in fair value of our investments below the cost basis when the decline
 
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is judged to be other-than-temporary. For information regarding the sensitivity of and risks associated with the market value of portfolio investments and interest rates, refer to the section titled “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” included in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 28, 2007. Our investments in private companies are subject to risk of loss of investment capital. These investments are inherently risky because the markets for the technologies or products they have under development are typically in the early stages and may never materialize. We could lose our entire investment in these companies.
IF WE DO NOT SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE OUR STRATEGIC ALLIANCES, WE MAY EXPERIENCE INCREASED COMPETITION OR DELAYS IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
We have several strategic alliances with large and complex organizations and other companies with whom we work to offer complementary products and services. These arrangements are generally limited to specific projects, the goal of which is generally to facilitate product compatibility and adoption of industry standards. If successful, these relationships may be mutually beneficial and result in industry growth. However, these alliances carry an element of risk because, in most cases, we must compete in some business areas with a company with which we have a strategic alliance and, at the same time, cooperate with that company in other business areas. Also, if these companies fail to perform or if these relationships fail to materialize as expected, we could suffer delays in product development or other operational difficulties.
OUR STOCK PRICE MAY BE VOLATILE
Historically, our common stock has experienced substantial price volatility, particularly as a result of variations between our actual financial results and the published expectations of analysts and as a result of announcements by our competitors and us. Furthermore, speculation in the press or investment community about our strategic position, financial condition, results of operations, business, security of our products or significant transactions can cause changes in our stock price. In addition, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market price of many technology companies, in particular, and that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of these companies. These factors, as well as general economic and political conditions and the announcement of proposed and completed acquisitions or other significant transactions, or any difficulties associated with such transactions, by us or our current or potential competitors, may materially adversely affect the market price of our common stock in the future. Additionally, volatility, lack of positive performance in our stock price or changes to our overall compensation program including our stock incentive program may adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, virtually all of whom are compensated, in part, based on the performance of our stock price.
WE HAVE ISSUED $6.5 BILLION OF SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES, AND THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION WILL NOT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED
We have issued senior unsecured notes in an aggregate principal amount of $6.5 billion that mature at specific dates in 2009, 2011 and 2016. The notes that mature in 2009 bear floating-rate interest payable quarterly while the notes that mature in 2011 and 2016 bear fixed-rate interest payable semi-annually. We have entered into certain interest rate swaps to, in effect, convert the interest rates of the fixed interest notes into floating-rates based on LIBOR. Higher short-term interest rates would accordingly result in increased interest expense. While we presently mitigate this risk by investing a portion of our interest-bearing assets in instruments with similar interest rate characteristics as the swapped debt, there can be no assurance that we will maintain a matched portfolio in the future. The instruments governing the notes contain certain covenants applicable to us and our subsidiaries that may adversely affect our ability to incur certain liens or engage in certain types of sale and leaseback transactions. We had not previously undertaken substantial amounts of debt for borrowed money. There can be no assurance that our incurrence of this debt will be a better means of providing liquidity to us than would our use of our existing cash resources, including cash currently held offshore. Further, we cannot be assured that our maintenance of this indebtedness will not adversely affect our operating results or financial condition. In addition, changes by any rating agency to our credit rating can negatively impact the value and liquidity of both our debt and equity securities.
 
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 Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	
 
(a)	None.	
 
(b)	None.	
 
(c)	Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (in millions, except per-share amounts)	

Period	  	Total Number of Shares
Purchased (1)	  	Average Price Paid
per Share (1)	  	Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs (2)	  	Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares That
May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs (2)	
October 28, 2007 to November 24, 2007	  	                             75	  	$	                      29.99	  	                             75	  	$	                    13,521	
November 25, 2007 to December 22, 2007	  	28	  	$	28.04	  	27	  	$	12,767	
December 23, 2007 to January 26, 2008	  	37	  	$	26.50	  	37	  	$	11,771	
	  	 	  			  	 	  			
Total	  	140	  	$	28.67	  	139	  			

(1)	Includes approximately 200,000 shares repurchased to satisfy tax withholding obligations that arise on the vesting of shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units.	

(2)	On September 13, 2001, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized a stock repurchase program. As of January 26, 2008, our Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to $62 billion of common stock under this program. During the second quarter of fiscal 2008, we repurchased and retired 139 million shares of our common stock at a weighted-average price of $28.67 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $4.0 billion. As of January 26, 2008, we had repurchased and retired 2.5 billion shares of our common stock at a weighted-average price of $20.39 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $50.2 billion since inception of the stock repurchase program, and the remaining authorized amount for stock repurchases under this program was $11.8 billion with no termination date.	
 
 Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	
None.
 
 Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders	
We held our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on November 15, 2007. At the meeting, our shareholders voted on the following eight proposals and cast their votes as follows:
Proposal 1: To elect twelve members of our Board of Directors:

Nominee	  	For	  	Against	  	Abstain	
Carol A. Bartz	  	5,104,282,438	  	136,114,806	  	24,927,678	
M. Michele Burns	  	5,139,557,635	  	100,394,701	  	25,372,587	
Michael D. Capellas	  	5,128,247,157	  	109,924,129	  	27,153,635	
Larry R. Carter	  	5,095,794,634	  	153,070,458	  	16,459,830	
John T. Chambers	  	5,093,464,883	  	148,462,082	  	23,397,955	
Brian L. Halla	  	5,143,662,919	  	  95,815,865	  	25,846,137	
Dr. John L. Hennessy	  	4,737,372,360	  	499,544,652	  	28,407,909	
Richard M. Kovacevich	  	5,142,800,388	  	  96,779,473	  	25,745,061	
Roderick C. McGeary	  	5,121,209,393	  	115,909,163	  	28,206,365	
Michael K. Powell	  	5,102,883,045	  	137,276,462	  	25,165,415	
Steven M. West	  	5,098,062,532	  	139,039,070	  	28,223,319	
Jerry Yang	  	5,134,818,039	  	105,888,242	  	24,618,640	
Proposal 2: To approve the amendment and extension of the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan:

For	 	Against	 	Abstain	 	Broker Non-votes	
3,010,891,785	 	1,168,071,546	 	45,324,648	 	1,041,038,513	
 
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Proposal 3: To approve the Cisco Systems, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan (“EIP”) with respect to current and future covered employees and executive officers:

For	 	Against	 	Abstain	 	Broker Non-votes	
4,003,521,632	 	174,313,361	 	46,553,314	 	1,040,938,185	
Proposal 4: To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending July 26, 2008:

For	 	Against	 	Abstain	 	Broker Non-votes	
5,162,110,400	 	59,888,581	 	43,327,511	 	—  	
Proposal 5: A shareholder proposal requesting to amend the corporate Bylaws to establish a Board Committee on Human Rights:

For	 	Against	 	Abstain	 	Broker Non-votes	
246,693,106	 	3,259,276,014	 	718,425,838	 	1,040,931,534	
Proposal 6: A shareholder proposal that our Board of Directors Executive Compensation Committee establish a pay-for-superior-performance standard in our executive compensation plan for senior executives:

For	 	Against	 	Abstain	 	Broker Non-votes	
1,356,316,486	 	2,752,258,744	 	115,811,028	 	1,040,940,234	
Proposal 7: A shareholder proposal that the Board of Directors adopt a policy that our shareholders be given the opportunity at each annual meeting of shareholders to vote on an advisory resolution to ratify the compensation of the named executive officers:

For	 	Against	 	Abstain	 	Broker Non-votes	
1,886,318,699	 	2,067,408,123	 	270,561,659	 	1,041,038,011	
Proposal 8: A shareholder proposal that the Board publish a report providing a summarized listing and assessment of concrete steps we could reasonably take to reduce the likelihood that our business practices might enable or encourage the violation of human rights:

For	 	Against	 	Abstain	 	Broker Non-votes	
1,262,036,580	 	2,259,758,381	 	702,599,797	 	1,040,931,734	
 
 Item 5.	Other Information	
None.
 
 Item 6.	Exhibits	
The following documents are filed as Exhibits to this report:

10.1	  	Cisco Systems, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (including related forms of agreements) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K (File No. 000-18225) filed on November 19, 2007)	
		
10.2	  	Cisco Systems, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K (File No. 000-18225) filed on November 19, 2007)	
		
10.3	  	International Assignment Agreement dated as of November 19, 2007 by and between Cisco Systems, Inc. and Wim Elfrink (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Form 10-Q (File No. 000-18225) filed on November 20, 2007)	
		
10.4	  	Transition Agreement dated as of December 31, 2007 by and between Cisco Systems, Inc. and Charles H. Giancarlo (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K (File No. 000-18225) filed on January 4, 2008)	
		
31.1	  	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer	
		
31.2	  	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer	
		
32.1	  	Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer	
		
32.2	  	Section 1350 Certification of Principal Financial Officer	
 
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 SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 	 	 	 	Cisco Systems, Inc.	
				
Date:	 	February 19, 2008	 	By	 	/s/ Frank A. Calderoni	
	 		 		 	Frank A. Calderoni
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and duly authorized signatory)	
 
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EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.	 	 	
10.1	 	Cisco Systems, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (including related forms of agreements) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K (File No. 000-18225) filed on November 19, 2007)	
		
10.2	 	Cisco Systems, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K (File No. 000-18225) filed on November 19, 2007)	
		
10.3	 	International Assignment Agreement dated as of November 19, 2007 by and between Cisco Systems, Inc. and Wim Elfrink (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Form 10-Q (File No. 000-18225) filed on November 20, 2007)	
		
10.4	 	Transition Agreement dated as of December 31, 2007 by and between Cisco Systems, Inc. and Charles H. Giancarlo (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K (File No. 000-18225) filed on January 4, 2008)	
		
31.1	 	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer	
		
31.2	 	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer	
		
32.1	 	Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer	
		
32.2	 	Section 1350 Certification of Principal Financial Officer	
 
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Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, John T. Chambers, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Cisco Systems, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: February 19, 2008

/s/ John T. Chambers	
John T. Chambers	
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer	
(Principal Executive Officer)	

Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Frank A. Calderoni, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Cisco Systems, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: February 19, 2008

/s/ Frank A. Calderoni	
Frank A. Calderoni	
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	
(Principal Financial Officer)	

Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, John T. Chambers, do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:
 
 	•	 	the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended January 26, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and	
 
 	•	 	the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.	
Date: February 19, 2008

/s/ John T. Chambers	
John T. Chambers	
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer	
(Principal Executive Officer)	

Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Frank A. Calderoni, do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:
 
 	•	 	the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended January 26, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and	
 
 	•	 	the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.	
Date: February 19, 2008

/s/ Frank A. Calderoni	
Frank A. Calderoni	
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	
(Principal Financial Officer)