VIZIO to Release Its First Smartphone

VIZIO, a company better known for its affordable and popular HDTV sets, has recently announced that it will be making its entry into the smartphone market with the Android-based VIZIO VIA Phone.

The VIA Phone comes as part of VIZIO's VIA Plus ecosystem, which the company describes as "the next generation of VIZIO Internet Apps that features a unified, sophisticated, and intuitive user experience across multiple CE devices including VIZIO HDTVs, Blu-ray players, smartphones, and tablets."

"By integrating the VIA Plus user experience also found on our next generation TVs and Blu-ray devices, VIZIO is delivering the multi-screen, unified ecosystem other have talked about for years and never delivered," said Matthew McRae, the company’s Chief Technology Officer.

VIZIO's smartphone, which will run Google's Android OS, is going to feature a 1 GHz processor, a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, a microSD card slot, HDMI out, and HD video playback.

It will also come equipped with front- and rear-facing cameras, giving the VIA Phone video chat and photo/HD video-capture capabilities.

In an effort to increase the interconnectivity of its devices, VIZIO has also equipped the VIA Phone with an IR blaster and a universal remote control app for use with home theater systems.

VIZIO will also be releasing an Android OS-based tablet computer, the VIA tablet, alongside the smartphone, as part of the VIA plus ecosystem and further expanding the company's foray into new territories. However, given the success of the current giants in the Android-based market -- such as Samsung, LG, and Motorola -- it could be difficult for VIZIO to break through, despite of the appeal and interconnectivity of its devices over the VIA Plus platform.