ViewSonic launches dual-SIM smartphone and dual-boot tablet

ViewSonic has launched a dual-SIM smartphone and a dual-boot 10in tablet designed to meet the growing convergence of business and personal devices.

The V350 smartphone has a 3.5in display and runs Android 2.2, and the dual-SIM capability allows users to run two separate numbers and bills for different business accounts or a mix of personal and work uses.

ViewSonic said that this would be of particular use for those travelling frequently as they could switch to a SIM on a contract that offers a different pricing plan for voice, text and internet access when abroad.

The device also has a half-size Video Graphics Array capacitive touch screen, 5-megapixel auto-focus camera, Micro-SD expansion, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and GPS navigation.

The ViewPad 10Pro tablet, meanwhile, is a 10in device with dual-boot functionality between Windows 7 Professional and Android 2.2 so that users can run dedicated business applications and download applications from the Android Market.

The device runs on an Intel Oak Trail processor with support for Flash 10.1, and has a 1,024 x 600 LED backlit capacitive multi-touch panel as well as 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. ViewSonic claims that the battery will last for up to six hours.

James Coulson, marketing manager at ViewSonic Europe, told V3.co.uk that both devices had functions that would be of particular interest to businesses.

"Many organisations are conscious of the costs of phone use and so want to ensure staff are not using work mobile contracts for personal calls and so a dual-SIM offering allows staff to keep this separate," he said.

"It also ensures that staff working overseas can easily switch to a local SIM to reduce the expense of calling from abroad or browsing the internet."

Coulson added that by offering dual-boot functionality on the tablet users could get the best of both operating systems by ensuring they got the business functionality of Windows and the ability to download any "killer applications" that were developed.

"While Windows is the core platform for business uses, there could well be applications developed that become imperative to a business so having Android on the device ensure staff can use this as and when necessary."

ViewSonic will be demonstrating the products at Mobile World Congress next week in Barcelona, and V3.co.uk will be on hand to try out the devices, including video demonstrations of the products in action.