Cisco Announces Cius 7-Inch HD Android Tablet
Today Cisco has unveiled the Cius, a 7-inch business tablet capable of capturing and displaying high-resolution video among a bevy of other business oriented tasks for which the device is geared. With collaboration and communication portability in mind, the device weighs in at 1.15 pounds and supports HD video streaming, multi-party conferencing, and all the messaging and browsing you could ever need for business use. Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity insures employees in the field can easily stay in touch with headquarters.
The Android-based tablet won’t be available until 2011, though consumer trials will begin during Q3 of this year, but you probably can’t expect to see this tablet available directly to the consumer. Sales of the device will be targeted toward business and enterprise users through Cisco, which is a bit of a shame considering some of the truly cool features this tablet offers. I actually really dig the office phone docking station, too.
Highlights:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cisco Cius features an eloquent contacts-driven user experience, designed to enables users to quickly reach their important contacts.
- An on-board accelerometer readily orients applications for viewing in portrait or landscape modes as the user rotates the device to their preferred viewing orientation
- 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.
- A detachable and serviceable battery offers eight hours life under normal usage.