Photos: Cisco means business with Android tablet

Cius: An iPad for the enterprise?

Cisco has unveiled a tablet PC aimed squarely at the business market.

The device - called the Cisco Cius - is based on Google's Android OS. It has been designed to integrate with Cisco's enterprise collaboration and communication applications, including its videoconferencing and web conferencing software, and to act as a virtual desktop client, tapping into cloud-based applications and services.

Cisco has skinned the Android OS with a UI which the company said is designed to enable users to access important contacts quickly.

Like Apple's iPad tablet, the Cius also has an accelerometer inside, enabling the screen to be orientated in a landscape or portrait format, depending on how the user is holding it.

Photo credit: Cisco

The Cius, which weighs in at 0.52kg, has a seven-inch touchscreen.

It can also support HD videoconferencing using Cisco's Telepresence software over Ethernet when the tablet is docked, or via wi-fi when on the move in the office.

In addition to full Telepresence interoperability, the Cius supports HD video streaming and real-time video, multi-party conferencing, email, messaging and browsing.

Cisco collaboration applications compatible with the device include Cisco Quad, Cisco Show and Share, WebEx, Presence, and IM. The Cius also supports integration into Cisco Unified Communications Manager, and the Cisco AnyConnect Security VPN Client.

Photo credit: Cisco

The Cius has a front-mounted HD camera for videoconferencing, along with a five-megapixel rear-facing camera that can transmit video and capture still images.

It also packs dual noise-cancelling microphones for audio conferencing.

Photo credit: Cisco

Here's the Cius shown being docked into an optional HD audio station with telephone handset speakerphone.

According to Cisco, the tablet has an eight-hour battery life.

Photo credit: Cisco

The device has 3G and 802.11 a/b/g/n wi-fi built in, plus Bluetooth and Micro-USB. 4G connectivity will be "available at a later date", according to Cisco.

There's also access to third-party apps via the Android Market, while Cisco said it will be offering Cisco Collaboration APIs to developers through an SDK to help boost the number of Cius-friendly apps.

The company said customer trials of Cius will begin in the third quarter of this year, with general availability in the first quarter of 2011.

Photo credit: Cisco