Lenovo recently launched the Phab 2 Pro, the first consumer phone offering support for Google’s augmented reality Tango platform. And soon, Lenovo’s subsidiary may offer a Tango device, too.
The Moto Z will “likely” gain a Moto Mod add-on to enable Tango functionality, Motorola CEO Aymar de Lencquesaing said today. "The tablet folks [at Lenovo] did a phablet and worked with Google, the Tango team, to come out with a Tango phablet," the Moto CEO said, according to PCMag. "Going forward, we'll have to address as a group how do we reconcile the products that are at the fringe? We're likely to to have a Tango module to basically enable the Z to have Tango functionality."
There aren’t any official details about this Moto Mod quite yet, so it’s unclear when the add-on might launch or how much it’ll cost if it is released.
Lenovo’s Phab 2 Pro uses a combination of cameras, sensors, and software to enable augmented reality experiences. For example, you can use the Phab 2 Pro to measure a space and visualize how furniture will look in a room, thanks to a collaboration with Lowe’s.
The Tango platform is still young and it’s currently only available on the Phab 2 Pro. Adding Tango support to the Moto Z would give a boost to the platform by not only adding another Tango-capable device, but by adding a device that’s sold by the largest wireless carrier in the US. Of course, the Tango add-on will likely cost extra, so Google and Moto will have to make that Moto Mod attractive to consumers.