Cius announced as Cisco's new enterprise tablet

by Stevie Smith - Jul 1 2010, 14:31

Tech titans Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard may have blanched before the might of Apple’s iPad by shelving their respective Courier and Slate tablet computers, but that doesn’t mean the tablet market is now Apple’s touch-screen playground.

The Dell Streak notwithstanding (it’s more spacious smartphone than fully-fledged tablet) the iPad’s latest potential rival has taken aim at the enterprise sector via none other than Cisco, which has this week announced the Cius.

Unlike Apple’s focus on the general consumer, Cisco’s Cius is being touted as something of an enterprise hybrid that marries a business telephony system with tablet functionality in order to provide users with access to real-time HD video conferencing and one-on-one HD video calls.

In terms of core features, the Cius has a 7.0-inch SVGA display and runs on Google’s Android operating system, while its video calling capabilities are handled by a front-mounted camera – which can also capture video in 720p HD at a frame rate of 30fps.

Other contributing aspects include, Bluetooth and microUSB connectivity, noise-cancelling microphones, a built-in accelerometer, a removable battery that pushes eight hours of operation on a single charge, and support for 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi and 3G cellular modems (4G is expected at a later date). 

The Cius also comes with Virtual Desktop Integration, which provides “secure, anytime, anywhere access to business applications,” along with support for cloud computing, and Cisco collaboration tools such as Presence, IM, Cisco Quad, Cisco Show and Share and WebEx.

Weighing in at just 1.15lbs, the Cisco Cius is expected to arrive at retail in the early part of 2011. Pricing and regional availability have not yet been disclosed.

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