Verizon is bringing Cisco's Cius business collaboration tablet to its LTE 4G broadband network in the spring.
Cisco
Systems and Verizon Wireless are teaming up on a number of 4G broadband initiatives,
including offering Cisco's Cius business communications tablet on Verizon's LTE
(Long-Term Evolution) network.
Officials
with the two companies, which made the announcements Jan. 6 at the Consumer
Electronics Show in Las Vegas, also said they will roll out LTE interfaces for
Cisco's second-generation ISR (Integrated Services Routers) aimed at
enterprises and SMBs.
Officials
with both Cisco and Verizon said the combination of Cisco's collaboration
technology and Verizon's 4G network will improve how companies do business.
"Together
we're taking the next step with the combination of the Cisco Cius mobile
collaboration tablet and Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network," Janet Schijns,
vice president of Business Solutions Group at Verizon Wireless, said in a
statement. "Collaboration delivered over 4G LTE will be a whole new level
of access for enterprise users."
Verizon
launched its LTE 4G network last month, with officials saying it offers 10
times the speed of the company's 3G network. The company says the LTE network
reaches a third of all Americans, and will cover Verizon's entire 3G network
within three years.
Cisco
unveiled its
Android-based
Cius tablet in June 2010, a device designed to run the company's host of
collaboration and communications offerings, including WebEx online conferencing
and high definition, and will be managed by Unified Communications Manager
software. Users also get access to other Android applications.
The
7-inch Cisco device is unlike other tablets, such as Apple's iPad or Samsung's
Galaxy Tab, in that it's designed primarily for business use, while the others
target consumers, though they are making their way into the corporate world.
The Cius can sit in a docking station or be used on the go, and offers both
WiFi and broadband capabilities. While it has 4G capabilities, it also can
support 3G networks.
The
device is due to ship in March, and will be available on Verizon in the spring.
Cisco officials at CES reportedly said they also are talking to other network
providers.
"Knowledge
workers are no longer tethered to a desk, and they require mobile devices to
enable communications, collaboration and a computing solution in a form factor
that is sanctioned by the IT organization," Steve Slattery, vice president
and general manager of Cisco's IP Communications business unit, said in a
statement. "The Cisco Cius, running on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE
network, addresses just that and is optimized to deliver a superior experience
for business productivity."
Rival
Avaya in September 2010 introduced the
Avaya
Desktop Video Device, an 11.6-inch tablet device powered by Intel's Atom
processor that also offers HD video and audio capabilities, and includes an
interface that company officials say makes it easier to communicate with
others. In addition, the interface can be rolled out to other desktop and
mobile devices.
The
tablet, which will offer campus-wide mobility via SIP (Session Initiation
Protocol) and WiFi, as well as 3G and 4G access, is part of Avaya's larger
Avaya Flare Experience video communications initiative.
The
combination of Cisco's ISR G2 products and Verizon's 4G LTE network will enable
businesses to offer more and better collaboration and communication service to
remote and branch offices to devices like the Cius. The Cisco LTE 4G
Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Card also will let businesses deploy
media-rich applications over a wireless WAN link, according to Cisco officials.
"The
4G LTE Interface card on the Cisco ISR G2 platform is a game changer for our
customers, including Verizon Wireless, who are now able to deploy a rich set of
productivity-enhancing solutions across its 4G LTE network," Praveen
Akkiraju, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's Service Routing
Technology Group, said in a statement. "Our collaboration with Verizon
Wireless enables enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses to create
innovative services such as next-generation video-enabled ATMs and
'Shop-in-a-Box' retail solutions."
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