IT stalwart Cisco announced yesterday that it too intends to release its own tablet PC to the market next year, competing directly with the likes of Apple’s iPad.

According to the company the Cius, which will run on Google’s open source Android platform, will be modelled for the business world and will be released in 2011. It will feature a 7", 800 x 480 capacitive touch-screen and will run Ubuntu Linux for MID on a 1.1 GHz Intel Atom chip.

The Cius will also feature two cameras which will face toward and away from the user. This will enable video-conferencing and should give it an edge over the iPad.

Little else is known about the device other than Cisco intends to deliver it to retail for under $1 000.

Details regarding local pricing or release schedules are sketchy.