Toshiba and Vizio may join Google TV push at CES

Toshiba and Vizio may be the next to sign on to Google TV, a new leak alleged today. Both would unveil devices at the CES expo in January, likely focusing on TV sets. Neither company would confirm plans to Bloomberg, but Toshiba America's digital GM Jeff Barney strongly hinted at the plans.

"Google certainly is a key partner for us on the PC side and will likely be key for us on the TV side as well," he said.

The Google TV launch this year has been relatively low key and saw just Logitech's Revue and Sony's Internet TV and matching Blu-ray player reach the US. Toshiba and Vizio would significantly expand the platform's reach and may be followed by Samsung, although it would only say on the latest subject that Google TV is "under consideration."

Companies may face trouble getting acceptance, however, as most studios block Google TV from watching web video. The policies have left relatively few major American TV networks allowing the TV browser access and in many cases have defeated the main purpose of Google TV, which was to unify web video and regular TV.

By Electronista Staff