Distributor Tech Data Corporation, in Clearwater, Fla., will offer the Cisco CIUS, a mobile collaboration tablet. It will be available to Cisco’s advanced unified communications (UC) partners as of May 31, 2011.
IDC predicts that tablet shipments will grow by 77 percent in 2011. While media tablets continue to make headway with consumers, Cisco says the CIUS is the preferred tablet for business users, because it enables them to have a full desktop experience both on and off campus.
For example, CIUS can be docked on Cisco’s HD Media Station for wired connectivity. But when the user goes mobile, CIUS recognizes that the connectivity state has changed and transfers automatically to the campus’ wireless network. In addition, CIUS uses Cisco’s AnyConnect Mobility Client for secure remote connections.
Regardless of location, CIUS enables users to make voice or video calls, join or initiate WebEx conferences, and locate subject matter experts (SMEs) using virtual teaming and presence.
CIUS can also be used as a thin-client device for cloud computing. It integrates into existing collaboration architecture and runs securely using the existing infrastructure, according to Cisco. The tablet also allows users to access business applications in the cloud through a Virtual Desktop Client, but can coexist with an existing Windows environment.
The CIUS operates on the Android operating system and will allow open access to the Google Android market, although application access can be controlled internally. The device can also access such applications as WebEx, Quad and SocialMiner, in addition to the commercial applications found in the Android marketplace.
Tech Data provides support to its advanced UC partners with a number of value added services including: qualified lead campaigns, specialization assistance through TDEducation, and a dedicated team of Cisco sales and engineering resources. In addition, Tech Data plans to incorporate CIUS into its Solutions Center demonstrations, with an emphasis on its virtual desktop capabilities and TelePresence interoperability.
Tech Data offers pre-sales support on CIUS. For more information, please contact the Cisco team at 800-237-8931, ext. 77776.
