Cisco to Release More Cius Tablets Next Year
Cisco Systems is planning to release a larger and smaller version of its enterprise-centric Cius tablet.
If you are unfamiliar with Cisco's Cius tablet, don't worry you're not the only one. Cisco is best known for supplying communications and networking technology. Few consumers are even aware that the company has an Android tablet that was launched in August this year. And Cisco likes it that way.
The Cius isn't for the typical consumer. At $725 the Cius is priced higher than Apple's iPad which starts at $499. Cisco's main markets for the Cius are large enterprises and companies who want to provide their employees with a secure tablet and easy visual communication. The Cius is also perfect for organizations with employees in different parts of the country and rely on videoconferencing for meetings.
The Cius isn't available in retail outlets and interested consumers will have to order it through Cisco business channels. Despite this drawback, businesses and enterprise owners have been steady in their support for the tablet.
"The adoption has met our expectations," Chuck Fontana, product manager in charge of the Cius told CNET. "It has done well in terms of reception from the enterprise community."
Fontana said that there are already 1000 businesses adopting the Cius for their employees to use. The Cius is gaining ground because it has built-in security features that are more than typical tablets. The tablet can be easily managed and remotely wiped by IT departments and features widgets and applications that focus on communication, videoconferencing and work email. Cisco even has its own AppHQ application store where the apps are strictly scrutinized by Cisco for enterprise use.
The new tablets will have different screen sizes than the current 7-inch display. The company is still working out the details of the exact form but research is mostly around 10-inch to 11-inch screens and smaller screens that range from 3.5-inch to 5-inch screens. Cisco is planning to release a new tablet for spring and fall next year.
The new tablets will also run on the latest Android software known as the Ice Cream Sandwich. Cisco is working on getting the Ice Cream Sandwich to the current Cius.The Cius has an Intel Atom processor, clocked to 1.6GHz. It also holds 32GB of storage and 720p videoconferencing capabilities .