Cisco shows off Cius business tablet

Cisco has unveiled a new Android-powered tablet aimed at video-conferencing and mobile productivity.

At its Cisco Live conference in Las Vegas, the company unveiled the device along with the announcement of the winners of its $250,000 I-Prize competition.

Headlining the new releases was the Cius business tablet, set for launch next year. The 7 inch tablet will run on Google's Android platform and will rely on a combination of web-based tools and bundled Cisco applications such as WebEx.

With videoconferencing among the chief functions of the device, Cisco said that it will equip the Cius with a 720p camera and a version of its Telepresence video software.

The Cius will support 802.11n WiFi connections as well as support for 3G wireless broadband with plans to support 4G services. Additionally, the device will come with a desktop docking station which includes Ethernet connectivity and support for both USB and Bluetooth peripherals.

Along with the introduction of the Cius, chief executive John Chambers announced the winners of the company's $250,000 I-Prize contest. The competition invited groups from around the world to propose new business ideas and projects for the company.

"My goal is to challenge us a little bit, to get everyone outside" Chambers said of the contest.

The 2010 prize went to 'Rhinnovation', a group of university students from Guadalajara, Mexico.

The group proposed an online profile platform called 'Life Account,' which would use a combination of smart devices and online metrics to collect user data and form profiles based on both online and real-world activity.