So when you see the headline and pictures and think, wait, isn’t this a copy of an iPad, think again. The Cisco Cius is something the Apple iPad will never be. In addition, don’t forget apple did take the names iOS and iPhone from Cisco Systems.

The Cisco Cius is the latest from the networking giants Cisco, which is a mobile collaboration business tablet that delivers virtual desktop integration with anywhere, anytime access to the full range of Cisco collaboration and communication applications, including HD video.

Cisco Cius is an ultra-portable device weighing just 520 grams that extends the productivity benefits of Cisco collaboration applications to a highly secure mobile platform. In addition to full telepresence interoperability, Cisco Cius offers 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.

Based on the Android operating system, Cisco Cius is an open platform for communication and collaboration whose form factor and applications are designed to more securely connect employees on-the-go with the right people in real-time, and to provide those workers with the ability to access and share the content they need from any place on the network.

Cisco Cius offers IT professionals new options when it comes to equipping mobile workers with computing devices. Through virtual desktop integration, Cisco Cius offers flexible computing options with cloud-based services, providing dramatically lower capital costs and cost-per-user for desktop maintenance.

Businesses can also tap into the growing Android developer community that is building business-class productivity applications with appropriate IT controls. The combination of applications and flexible computing options provides a compelling alternative to today’s PC-on-every-desktop paradigm.

Some of the features includes an optional HD audio station equipped with a telephone handset speakerphone, HD DisplayPort and USB ports, a front-mounted 720p HD camera which refreshes at up to 30 frames per second; a seven inch, high-resolution widescreen super VGA touch-target display for real-time and streamed video, and single-button TelePresence interoperability that can be utilized either when the tablet is docked, or being used remotely via Wi-Fi. The tablet also has a 5-megapixel rear facing camera that can transmit streaming VGA quality video and capture still images, and dual noise-cancelling microphones for audio conferencing. Cisco Cius features an eloquent contacts-driven user experience, designed to enables users to quickly reach their important contacts, an on-board accelerometer readily orients applications for viewing in portrait or landscape modes as the user rotates the device to their preferred viewing orientation. The Cius supports 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi for enterprise campus mobility and 3G cellular services when off-campus. 4G services will be available at a later date. Bluetooth and Micro-USB means users can work untethered and share data with a PC. Battery life is expected to be around 8 hours.

If you’re in the business world and want to use this there, there’s no worry as this is integrated with Cisco business applications like Cisco Quad, Cisco Show and Share, Cisco WebEx Connect, Cisco WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco Presence, and interoperability with Cisco TelePresence. It is also supported by Cisco Unified Communications Manager and is easily integrated into existing Cisco customer environments. If you want some security, fear not because the Cius uses Cisco AnyConnect VPN Security, part of the Cisco Borderless Networks architecture. Virtual desktop integration provides IT organizations with the ability to host software applications securely in the data center and to utilize the Cisco network to deliver those applications ‘as-a-service’ anytime, anywhere. Cisco Cius thereby supports data center consolidation and reduced software licensing costs. Cisco will help expand Android developed applications for business by offering Cisco Collaboration Application Protocol Interfaces (API’s) to developers through a Software Developer’s Kit (SDK).

Also bear in mind, Cisco Cius is not really a consumer product. It’s for a niche market and unlike Apple have done with the iPad trying to be too much and being a bit disappointing at certain things, Cisco have targeted the use of the Cius correctly and done it right. It’s definitely something that can be used and you can expect to see this in the first quarter of 2011.

Check out more information here on Cisco’s Website.