Surprising no one, Google announced partnership with Vizio to sell TVs and BluRay players with GoogleTV.
On the Google TV blog, Rishi Chandra, Google (GOOG) TV Product Manager, officially announced a hookup with leading HDTV manufacturer Vizio. Vizio was first named as a Google partner last month when it was revealed that several manufacturers were scaling back their GoogleTV introductions. Vizio obviously isn’t one of the manufacturers scaling back.
According to the post, Vizio will be building both HDTVs and BluRay players with GoogleTV, something Sony (SNE) currently has an exclusive on. A timeframe for release and prices weren’t given, only “later this year”.
Vizio also announced the partnership today, saying the GoogleTV software would be in its VIA Plus line.
VIZIO Internet Apps™ (VIA) Plus TVs, which will incorporate the Google TV platform, feature a sophisticated and intuitive user interface that allows users to access their favorite apps as well as search and browse the web using a premium Bluetooth QWERTY universal remote with touchpad and built-in dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi.
That statement appears to mean that Vizio will only get GoogleTV when apps are available, which will come as part of a GoogleTV update again “later this year”.
Vizio has also announced an 8-inch tablet and a 4 inch phone based on Android (GoogleTV is also Android). Like any GoogleTV/Android device combination, Vizio’s setup will allow you to control the GoogleTV with the Android or iOS tablet or smartphone.