Healthcare’s iPad killer: The Cisco Cius?

By: Brian Dolan | Jun 30, 2010        

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Cisco Cius TelePresenceCisco unveiled the Cisco Cius, a “mobile collaboration business tablet” that offers tight integration with Cisco’s cloud services, video applications and more. Cisco’s tablet is clearly looking to fill a potential gap created by Apple’s iPad. Where the iPad is mostly seen as a device for content consumption, Cisco is touting its Cius as a device of “collaboration.” While the iPad is certainly much more of a consumer device, Cisco promises security and touts enterprise applications for its “business tablet.” What’s more, the Cius offers two cameras — front-facing and back, and a detachable serviceable battery that runs for up to eight hours under “normal” usage.

Cisco Cius Tablet Docking StationThe device is expected to ship during the first quarter of 2011 and Cisco plans to keep its pricepoint under $1,000.

The Cius (pronounced “See-us”) is a 1.15 lb tablet computer that runs on Google’s Android operating system, boasts HD video streaming and real-time video, multi-party conferencing, email, messaging, browsing, and the ability to produce, edit and share content stored locally or centrally in the cloud,” according to the company. During its press event yesterday the company showed off the Cius’ interoperability with Cisco’s popular line of Flip cameras as well as its line of new smart grid gadgets, according to a report in GigaOm. According to the release the device also offers TelePresence when the unit is docked or connected to a WiFi network.

On the wireless front, the Cius offers 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and 3G cellular services, while 4G services will be available at a later date, according to Cisco. Cius also includes Bluetooth and Micro-USB.

Perhaps the biggest strike against Cisco’s Cius is its 7-inch screen with Super-VGA resolution — as a result medical imaging and diagnostic app developers may meet this device with tepid enthusiasm.

While the iPhone and other smartphone have enjoyed widespread adoption within the healthcare industry, the market for tablet computers is still uncertain. Unlike smartphones, many contend that tablets will require greater integration with a care facilities IT infrastructure, a task many believe will crush a lot of hopeful iPad physician enthusiasts once they bring it to their IT department.

Cisco’s business tablet could be in a position to capitalize on those network integration fears with Cius, but with a targeted Q1 2011 launch date, Cisco is giving Apple and other early movers in the tablet space a good amount of lead time.

For more details, read the press release from Cisco here
For more about tablets in healthcare, purchase our latest report on the iPad in healthcare

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  • Steve

    The device may or may not be better than the iPad for medical use…but to state that there is anything, anything at all, secure about “cloud” computing is ridiculous. If there is anything that is susceptible to hacking it is the “cloud”. If there is anywhere it is not safe to store data it is in the “cloud”. How obvious does it have to be?

  • Bob

    Cisco should stick with routers. There’re out of their league with this:

    Overpriced, small screen, shorter battery life, do we need two cameras (especially now that the iPhone has them)?

    I don’t see how this thing trumps the iPad for healthcare (or for much else). Probably will go the same way the Microsoft ‘Kin’ went!

  • http://mobihealthnews.com Brian Dolan

    Good points, Bob. The MCA makers are fond of saying that while physicians may be excited about the iPad and planning to bring them in… once they bring it to the IT department integration headaches will put an end to it. The Cisco Cius could capitalize on that. Might make a slightly higher price point worth it — although unclear what that margin of difference is right now:

    $499 vs. <$1000 leaves a lot of grey area.

  • Slick

    There will be a lot more Android tablets coming real soon. While I think this one may miss the mark(need to see more info about it’s capabilities), I feel fairly certain the Android OS will have more than half the tablet market due to Apple’s restrictions on how their device can be used.

    I have an ipad and love it, yet at the same time I feel it’s been crippled because of the things Apple won’t allow. Easy file sharing/transport, lack of standard USB port(adaptor works in some cases and not in others..), VGA adaptor only works on some apps, no connection for external dvd burner, etc.

    I feel the need for more flexibility in the way I am “allowed” to use my ipad. I basically want a laptop replacement, in addition to my desktop pc.

    I expect a good Android tablet that fullfills the above needs is not far away and I will buy it.

  • http://www.aviddesignblog.com/?p=2677 AVID #HCMKTG Week in Review: June 28–July 4, 2010 | AVID Design | Blog

    [...] Healthcare’s iPad Killer: The Cisco Cius? (Mobi Health News | June 30) [...]

  • http://mobihealthnews.com/9807/top-10-mobile-health-stories-of-2010/ Top 10 Mobile Health Stories of 2010 | mobihealthnews

    [...] 3. Healthcare’s iPad killer: The Cisco Cius? – June 30, 2010: While it has not received considerable ink since, in June Cisco unveiled the Cisco Cius, a “mobile collaboration business tablet” that offers tight integration with Cisco’s cloud services, video applications and more. Where the iPad is mostly seen as a device for content consumption, Cisco is touting its Cius as a device of “collaboration.” While the iPad is certainly much more of a consumer device, Cisco promises security and touts enterprise applications for its “business tablet.” What’s more, the Cius offers two cameras — front-facing and back, and a detachable serviceable battery that runs for up to eight hours under “normal” usage. The iPad, of course, offers no camera. Article [...]