WSJ: Japanese Government Gives OLED Development A Boost
Story Highlights
The Wall Street Journal reports that OLED technology, the lightweight flat panel display technology that could unseat plasma and LCD, will get a kick from the Japanese government. By initiating a joint research effort by 11 Japanese companies,
including materials and parts suppliers, the government is hoping to
speed up development and to give Japanese electronics companies an
edge. In addition to Sony and Sharp, a joint venture between Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. is participating.
Although it is new technology, Texas market researcher DisplaySearch
expects OLED displays to become a $5.3 billion market by 2015 from
$497.4 million in 2007. Sony became the world’s first manufacturer to
start selling an OLED TV set last year, but it is small, at 11 inches,
and is priced at about $2,500. The set, made in small quantities and
sold in Japan and the U.S., remains the only OLED TV on the market.