For $7 billion, you can change whatever you want.

Cisco Systems, new owner of Scientific-Atlanta, has decided to ditch the hyphen.

Henceforth, Scientific-Atlanta is Scientific Atlanta. The hyphen disappeared as part of a redesign that also switched Scientific Atlanta's corporate color from dark blue to a green and, in a new logo, added the Cisco name.

"It's just pure design," said Scientific Atlanta spokeswoman Peggy Ballard. "It's still the same company."

Much more meaningful questions remain, beyond the loss of a bit of punctuation that has been in use since 1953. For example, how will Cisco reshape Lawrenceville-based Scientific Atlanta and, for that matter, the city's tech community? Tales abound of SA staffers floating résumés to other companies just in case there are big changes, although many hope Cisco will prove to be a boon to the region.

The hyphen, however, lives on only as a footnote — or, for those who work at the company, as a still-used fixture in legal documents.

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/0328bizhyphen.html

"It's just pure design," said Scientific Atlanta spokeswoman Peggy Ballard. "It's still the same company."For now....first change the name (branding), then change the game.