ViewSonic switches on to smartphone market

LCD TV maker ViewSonic has announced plans to develop 3G smartphones, giving it a 3-inch – 300-inch product line.

Like PC-maker Acer, which is currently developing a range of smartphones, ViewSonic wants a piece of the rapidly expanding smartphone market.

The firm said the move is a ‘natural extension’ of its product range in a world where televisions, computers and mobile phones are converging into a single gadget.

Viewsonic handsets will launch in China, followed by Europe and the Americas.

“This is an important strategic step for ViewSonic, as it allows us to apply our display technology to an even larger and rapidly growing worldwide market,” said CEO James Chu.

As well as TVs, ViewSonic manufactures LCD monitors, projectors, digital signs, and digital photo frames.

ViewSonic has not yet released details on price, handset OS, or the number of handsets it plans to produce.