"Who do you see as their main competitor in this space??"
EETimes.com has an article about this, too, I thought. Looks like Samsung is building up the manufacturing advantage, while Sony is rethinking its role, and examining whether it should become more of a software developer. Samsung is also working on new kinds of display technology, I understand.
I think so. They already have a pretty decent stranglehold on the small to medium consumer base. Their displays are excellent. I find myself staring at their TVs whever I go through the electronics section at any store.
This is really a big development in LCD market which I think still has a lot of potential and consumers in many countries have'nt yet shifted to flat panel displays. When the lifecycle of any product (LCDs in this case) reaches maturity stage, the competition becomes intense and to grasp decent margins, new ways have to tried out to cut down overhead costs. So merger sounds good to me. This is also an indication that there was no further room for overhead cut down and merging production facilities was best way out.
However, the best of three, in terms of quality looses out as it has to share its expertise with the partners in venture.
NoelB: Thanks for your well-thought out comment. In general, OLEDs are supposed to work better in sunlight (than LCDs) becuase they are not backlit, so it surprises me that your experience with them hasn't been optimal. But I do know that the larger the screen, the lesser performance OLEDs have. This could be one of those situations and if so remains a problem for overall adoption of the technology.
I agree with your point about technology reaching a plateau of sorts. It is hard to imagine the next product that is going to shake up the marekt like the PC did. And, while OLEDs have a number of advantages over LCDs, they don't revolutionize screen technology. Flat-screens are way better than CRTs, but when you get to the point where we are today with LCD TVs, it may not matter whether it is an OLED or an LCD in your living room. But I think there will always be a group of early adopters out there that will buy them anyway, and that's one of the things that keeps the market growing :-)
@FLYINGSCOT: I agree that the Japanese government has certainly taken a step in the right direction by investing in display companies. Displays will be a critical component in the future and I'm sure the investment will pay off very well for the Japanese economy and might establish Japan as the world leader in display products.
I think OLEDs tend to lead in terms of their display quality and power consumption. As the production increases the price would come down. I agree that OLEDs would dominate in the future and penetrate very swiftly.
Bolaji, narrow downing the market players can end up in monopolistic nature of business and finally customer may lose their choices. If more players are there then there would be always a chance for health competition in terms of price and quality of products.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
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Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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