{"id":8294,"date":"2011-07-07T21:05:46","date_gmt":"2011-07-08T01:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rbachnet.wwwmi3-ss40.a2hosted.com\/?p=8294"},"modified":"2022-08-19T20:01:16","modified_gmt":"2022-08-20T00:01:16","slug":"too-late-for-cisco-to-take-on-apple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/too-late-for-cisco-to-take-on-apple\/","title":{"rendered":"Too Late for Cisco to Take on Apple?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Too<\/a>Chronically under-performing<\/a> Cisco is finally getting into the iPad tablet market. Cisco<\/a> (CSCO<\/a>) will be releasing Cius<\/a> in July. Technology Review<\/a><\/em> reports<\/a> that Cisco’s Cius, is bulkier than the iPad, and has a smaller screen (7-inches wide, compared to the iPad’s 9.7). But it packs a number of tricks designed to woo business users.<\/p>\n

\"Cisco<\/a>Tested.com<\/em><\/a> says<\/a> the Cius can connect to a Cisco phone network to port calls from a desk number to the tablet in order to make a user’s desk number mobile. This will enable a person to make and receive voice and video calls anywhere. The tablet features HD quality cameras front and back and can be used with a Bluetooth<\/a> headset for more private calling.<\/p>\n

The tablet can also be used as a desktop videoconferencing device when docked on a special desktop phone, and can smoothly switch between a WiFi<\/a> a cellular network connection. The Cius can be docked to serve as a videoconferencing device. The dock supports a keyboard and mouse, so the Cius really can serve as a little computer, “It can replace my desktop operating system,” says Tom Puorro<\/a>, senior director for Cisco’s collaboration technologies told Technology Review<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Tested.com<\/em> says the tablet runs Google<\/a>‘s (GOOG<\/a>) Android 2.2 Froyo<\/a> on an Intel<\/a> (INTC<\/a>) Z650 1.6GHz Atom chip<\/a> and weighs 1.5 pounds despite its small 7\u201d screen. Tested.com <\/em> speculates that Cisco has heavily modified the open-source Android to support business-centric features like multi-person videoconferencing and virtual desktop software<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Engadget<\/a> has a video demo of the product here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fully skinned Android tablet seems like a relic of 2010 thanks to the arrival of Honeycomb, a version of Android actually built for tablets–which the Cius isn\u2019t running. Tested.com<\/em> says Cisco plans to upgrade the tablet to Android Ice Cream Sandwich<\/a> eventually, but for now, it\u2019s slumming around with version 2.2 (Froyo). Cisco probably spent too much time developing its custom skin and software to upgrade to Android version 2.3 (Gingerbread<\/a>) or version 3.0 (Honeycomb<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"Cisu<\/a><\/em>Cisco has also created its own app store, AppHQ<\/a>, that has only apps deemed stable and secure by Cisco and segregated it from the Android app market. This gives the IT department greater control over what a Cius user can do. IT managers can shut down access to the Android app market to protect a company from malicious apps according to Technology Review<\/em>. Companies can even create their own app store within AppHQ and limit employees to certain applications, or apps built in-house.<\/p>\n

Cisco has demonstrated a Cius virtual desktop that runs in the cloud and makes use of a dedicated chip in the tablet that encrypts all its data says Technology Review<\/em><\/p>\n

A Wi-Fi-only version of the tablet will be available worldwide from July 31 at an estimated price of $750. Cisco will sell it along with related services and infrastructure, so the cost to businesses will vary, and could be as low as $650. AT&T<\/a> and Verizon will each offer versions for their 3G and 4G networks this fall.<\/p>\n

rb-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I wrote about the Cius here<\/a> and don’t think it is an Apple Killer. Cisco will give its big partners a deal, but Cius also depends on an existing Cisco telephony infrastructure. I don’t see the Cius fitting in the Cisco product line-up since they jettisoned the Flip and are reportedly shopping<\/a> Linksys and WebEx. The built-in virtual desktop looks pretty cool, though.<\/em><\/p>\n

What do you think?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can the Cisco Cius knock off the Apple iPad?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Does the Cius make sense in the non-consumer Cisco?<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Related articles<\/h6>\n