You may know Vizio as a reputable manufacturer of affordable HDTV sets, but coming later this year, it’s looking to expand its consumer electronics presence by turning to Android for a brand new phone and tablet.
Vizio has never dabbled in the mobile phone market before, but that will change in due time. The Wall Street Journal has early details on the company’s new “Via” brand.
The Via Phone and Via Tablet will reportedly both be revealed at CES later this week. And like Vizio’s TV line, the Via devices will target budget-conscious consumers. Original retail partners will supposedly be Walmart and Costco.
Vizio teased the announcements in a mass media TV ad, airing right before the Rose Bowl this weekend and exemplifying just how big of a move this is for the company.
While many might rightly say 2010 was quite a year for Android, 2011 could very well put that to shame. As the first full year at the top of the mobile charts, Android is looking forward to a year of bigger and better apps, very sophisticated mobile games, and a tablet revolution.
The Via Phone will reportedly pack a 4-inch touch-screen with both front and rear cameras, while the Via Tablet will have a display measuring in at 8 inches, along with a front-facing camera and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Expect to see more when Vizio presents its lineup at CES. But for now, here’s the very tease-y commercial:
