(Updated) Vizio To Launch Android Tablet, Mobile Phone, Video Download Service
(Updated: with photos, link to press release and hands-on previews from Engadget, phone, tablet.) With CES starting this week, there have been lots of rumors leading up to the show including reports that Vizio may get into the tablet business. And thanks to a WSJ article from Sunday night, it turns out that the rumors are in fact true. Later this summer, Vizio plans to introduce an 8" tablet as well as a mobile phone with a 4" screen. Both devices will run Android and while pricing had yet to be disclosed, the WSJ interviewed Vizio's CTO as saying their aim is to, "provide the best that's out there to your typical Wal-Mart shopper," something that Vizio has been very successful at with their line of TVs.
The company also plans to launch a new video download service which will run on all of their devices and will allow users to starting watching a movie on one Vizio device finishing watching it on another. Vizio's cell phone, dubbed the Via Phone, will have a 4" screen, a front-facing camera and a rear-facing five megapixel camera. Vizio's tablet, named Via Tablet, will have an 8" screen, WiFi connectivity (but no cellular service), three speakers and a front-facing camera. Vizio's mobile carrier partner has yet to be announced but I've heard from various folks who think it will be Verizon.
If there is one thing Vizio has done very well in the TV business, it's forcing pricing down in the industry and making up for it by the sheer number of units they have sold. If Vizio take this same approach with tablets, and I expect they will, Vizio could very well disrupt the tablet space, especially with the strong ties they have with retail chains. Vizio is a well known brand with a big install base and has the ability to get in front of a lot of customers very quickly.
I don't know exactly how many tablets will be released this year, but I've seen some folks who estimate it to be as high as 100. Even if it's half that, I think it's a safe bet that we'll be looking back on 2011 as the year of the tablet and I would not be surprised if Vizio is one of the leaders of the pack. They won't be displacing Apple anytime soon, but they could very well compete for a large portion of the market, which iSuppli says will be 61M units sold this year.
I'm a big fan of Vizio's TVs, have three units myself, and have helped friends and relatives purchase many others. If Vizio approaches the tablet space the same way they have dominated the TV market, I suspect Vizio will be successful in expanding their business. I'll have a review up of Vizio's new tablet later in the year.
Good news! Tech is just getting bigger and better!
Posted by: Garry | Monday, January 03, 2011 at 05:52 AM
Having just purchased my first HDTV, a Vizio, very impressed with their ease of use focus and top-notch features, at the lowest price. Vizio is a strong up and comer in the market, gaining traction quickly against well-established competitors. Broadening their product portfolio at this time with a tablet and a phone seems like a good move. On the other hand, I also selected Vizio for it's independence - I didn't want an integrated TV platform, as I see that technology evolving faster then the TV sets themselves, and would rather have an external device (in my case Apple TV is an excellent product) and use the standard HDMI interfaces to let the TV evolve separately from the platform. I hope Vizio maintains this independence.
Posted by: Scott Safe | Monday, January 03, 2011 at 12:54 PM
I hope this would be better and cooler than iPad.
Posted by: FS | Thursday, January 06, 2011 at 02:44 AM
I already have a Vizio TV and I am glad to hear Vizio will release its newest product. I hope that Vizio will be more successful in developing its business.
Posted by: Jon | Monday, January 10, 2011 at 10:03 PM
I hope this would be better and cooler than iPad.
Posted by: business mobile phones | Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 12:54 AM
I'm an avid follower of Vizio products and I have already their LCD television. For sure I will purchase this 8" tablet for my business if it’s already in the market. Good luck to Vizio and hope for more great products to come. Thank you for posting this blog. Cheers!!
Posted by: iPhone4 insurance | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 09:04 AM
This android technology amazes me. I can't wait to buy my tablet computer, next month. It's far more useful and fun than anything invented so far.
Posted by: Droid Tablet | Monday, February 07, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Great! Thank you for your post!
Posted by: BlackBerry Videos | Monday, June 20, 2011 at 03:45 AM
I am looking forward to those products. I will be on a lookout for the price and reviews of it.
Posted by: polycom ip 50 | Monday, December 26, 2011 at 12:16 AM