Cisco announced Tuesday that they are adding their name to the long list of new tablets on the market. The new tablet, scheduled to be released in early 2011, will be called the Cisco Cius and will run Google"s Android operating system. The Cius will be targeted at the business crowd rather than the average consumer like most other tablets in production.
Cisco says the tablet "delivers virtual desktop integration with anywhere, anytime access to the full range of Cisco collaboration and communication applications, including HD video." The Cius will feature a front mounted 720p HD camera, a seven inch screen, a rear mounted 5-megapixel camera, an accelerometer to rotate the screen to match your viewing preference, Bluetooth, USB, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and 3G cellular service with plans to add 4G service at a later date.
Along with the features and applications that Cisco has made available on the Cius you will also be able to access any of the available applications in the Android marketplace. Cisco will also release a set of device APIs and SDK so developers can make applications tailored to the device.
After the announcement InformationWeek did a phone interview with Tom Puorro, director of product management in Cisco"s IP communications unit, who said "the iPad was not the primary driver for the creation of the Cius, though he did note that development was accelerated following the iPad"s introduction. He said Cisco began working on the device about 18 months ago."