Cisco Cius Tablet – Future of Enterprise VideoConferencing
Cisco Systems Inc is launching a tablet computing device aimed at business customers, becoming the latest company to wade into the red-hot tablet market.
The networking equipment maker unveiled the Cius on Tuesday, a lightweight, 7-inch tablet based on Google Inc’s Android operating system.
Cisco is pitching the Cius, which will work over both short-range WiFi and high-speed mobile wireless networks, as a collaboration and communication device for enterprises.
The Cius offers portable video conferencing, access to a users’ desktop computer, email messaging and Web browsing, along with applications designed for the Android platform.
Apple Inc essentially created the tablet market with the successful launch of the iPad in April and a slew of tablet devices are hitting the market this year from companies such as Dell Inc and Toshiba Corp.
Cisco Cius is running Android -and therefore you have full access to 50,000 Android Market applications.
The most important thing point about the Cius, however, is that it’s got a Cisco label on it. Which means it’s most, most welcome in enterprise. Nobody ever got shot for buying Cisco. There will be a considerable number of CIOs who will relax and smile during the product evaluation discussions between iPad, various other Android tablets and the Cius. Not only have you got the backing of the global connectivity giant that is Cisco, you’ve also got the ability to access products and services from the Android market. Or, to put it another way, you can get your in-house development team to start developing custom applications and services for your Cius estate using industry standard and easily accessible technology.
Unlike Cisco’s offering, most tablets have so far been aimed at consumers.
Applications Capabilities:
* 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, 3G/4G data and Bluetooth 3.0 help employees stay connected on and off-campus
* HD video (720p) with Cisco TelePresence solution interoperability for lifelike video communication with the simplicity of a phone call
* Virtual desktop client enables highly secure access to cloud-based business applications
* Android operating system, with access Android marketplace applications
* Collaboration applications including Cisco Quad, Cisco Show and Share, WebEx, Presence, and IM
Tablet Highlights:
* 7” diagonal, high-resolution color screen with contact-based touch targets delivers an elegant, intuitive experience
* HD Soundstation supports Bluetooth and USB peripherals, 10/100/1000 wired connectivity and a handset option
* Detachable and serviceable 8-hour battery for a full day of work
* Highly secure remote connections with Cisco AnyConnect Security VPN Client
* HD audio with wideband support (tablet, HD Soundstation)
