Cisco's Android-Based Cius Tablet

Hi Readers,

We all know that Android is a OS for mobile devices and we all are mostly expecting same. But on July 29, 2010 Cisco unveiled Android based seven-inch tablet PC named as Cisco Cius and redefine the Android space. The new Cisco Cius is an “ultra-portable, mobile collaboration business tablet that offers access to essential business applications and technologies.” Cisco's Cius has great feature list which brings it to the lime light with greatest & serious competitor to the Apple's iPad tablet. Apple iPad is best suited for content delivery and that's what it does best & used for by consumers. On the other hand Cisco Cius is all about enterprise. Now you are thinking that what features make it an enterprise tablet PC.

Cisco Cius Enterprise Tablet PC
Cius runs on Android and supports full integration of Cisco’s Telepresence technology with HD video conferencing support. The product and enterprise features are list for Cius Tablet PC as follows:-

Product Features:-

1. The Cisco Cius is a lightweight portable business computing tablet offered with an optional HD audio station equipped with a telephone handset speakerphone, HD DisplayPort and USB ports.
2. The Cisco Cius tablet features a front-mounted 720p HD camera which refreshes at up to 30 frames per second; a seven inch, high-resolution widescreen super VGA touch-target display for real-time and streamed video, and single-button TelePresence interoperability that can be utilized either when the tablet is docked, or being used remotely via Wi-Fi.
3. The tablet has a 5-megapixel rear facing camera that can transmit streaming VGA quality video and capture still images, and dual noise-cancelling microphones for audio conferencing.
4. Cisco Cius features an eloquent contacts-driven user experience, designed to enable users to quickly reach their important contacts.
5. An on-board accelerometer readily orients applications for viewing in portrait or landscape modes as users rotate the device to their preferred viewing orientation.
6. Cisco Cius supports 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi for enterprise campus mobility and 3G cellular services when off-campus. 4G services will be available at a later date. Bluetooth and Micro-USB means users can work untethered and share data with a PC.
7. A detachable and serviceable battery offers eight hours of life under normal usage.

Enterprise Features:-

1. Cisco Cius provides support for the comprehensive suite of Cisco collaboration applications including Cisco Quad, Cisco Show and Share, Cisco WebEx Connect, Cisco WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco Presence, and interoperability with Cisco TelePresence.
2. Cisco Cius is supported by Cisco Unified Communications Manager and is easily integrated into existing Cisco customer environments.
3. Cisco Cius helps ensure a more secure mobile collaboration experience by leveraging Cisco AnyConnect VPN Security, part of the Cisco Borderless Networks architecture.
4. Virtual desktop integration provides IT organizations with the ability to host software applications securely in the data center and to utilize the Cisco network to deliver those applications 'as-a-service' anytime, anywhere. Cisco Cius thereby supports data center consolidation and reduced software licensing costs.
5. Cisco Cius offers businesses the ability to take advantage of the ever-expanding ecosystem of cost-effective, third-party applications, supported by the Android operating system, while controlling user access policy.
6. Cisco will help expand Android developed applications for business by offering Cisco Collaboration Application Protocol Interfaces (API's) to developers through a Software Developer's Kit (SDK).

Cisco's Cius vs Apple's iPad:-
One key difference between the Cius and the iPad is that Apple's tablet does not have both front- and rear-facing HD cameras. Cisco's open standards-based approach (Android) for Cius is also a differentiator between the Cius & the iPad, also the fact that it ties into Cisco's existing collaboration assets.

Note: In addition to this Cisco also unveiled another tablet for Home Energy Management solution which runs on Ubuntu.