Just as a sidenote: Blender cycles is now becoming a separate standalone renderer itself. src http://www.blendernation.com/2014/01/27/cycles-standalone-re...

Also its being integrated into other 3d packages like Rhino. src http://www.blendernation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/rhin... and http://www.blendernation.com/2014/05/12/developer-meeting-no...