SONY OLED Samsung once again seek partners! Right?

In Japan, SONY (Sony) under the push, OLED TV can be said to be the most popular flat panel display technology. Recently, there are Japanese media reports, Sony President Nakahachi Ryoji (RyojiChubachi) said that Sony may seek to manufacture and sell OLED TV partners to jointly develop the market. It also makes it possible for people who are interested in their potential partners. In the LCD TV panel manufacturing (LCDTV) and Sony have a depth of cooperation, and in the OLED technology development also has high contribution to South Korean companies Samsung Electronics (SamsungELectronics) have a chance again and won again in the field of OLED and Sony together, staged a "double S" portfolio?

Sony in Japan on December 2007 officially SOLD 11 inch OLED TV, the thickness of about 3mm, power consumption is only 60% of the general LCD TV, color performance is amazing, and the next generation display technology to boost concept, once because of stock and selling. Today, the product will enter the U.S. market in early 2008, and in the United States 2008InternationalCES exhibition attracted the attention of all walks of life in the world, becoming the most popular flat panel display market technology. It also makes Sony become the leading manufacturers in the field of OLED TV, every move out of the limelight.

Recently, Sony President Nakahachi Ryoji in the Nikkei (Nikkei) interview, pointed out that Sony may seek to manufacture and sell OLED TV partners, cooperation into the cause of OLED, once again aroused widespread concern in the industry. Obviously, whether it is Sony to seek partners themselves, or their potential partners who will have a significant impact on the development process of the OLED TV industry. However, good governance did not disclose more details.

From the Sony point of view, looking for partners in the cause of OLED has its own difficulties. This is because OLED materials and production technology is not yet fully mature, OLED panel production yield is still low, so that the current high price of OLED tv. For example, SONY OLED TV XEL-1 although only 11 inches in size, but in the Japanese market sales price reached 200 thousand yen (about 13000 yuan), in the North American market price is $2500 (about 18000 yuan), this show is too expensive. In addition, although the current OLED TV limelight, but there are still large size production difficulties, life is uncertain, OLED screen vulnerable to humidity, and may thus be damaged and other technical issues. Sony need to find partners with their common technology development, joint investment, risk sharing.

In addition, the most important thing is more on the front in addition to Sony, Japan's Matsushita, Samsung, LG, Chinese Qijing photoelectrical Taiwan area, and Chinese, Changhong and other manufacturers are focusing on R & D and manufacturing of OLED tv. According to the topology Research Institute (TRI) survey, although the 2007 OLED TV shipments of less than 4000 units, shipments amounted to only $7 million 100 thousand. However, a large number of investment in each vendor, OLED TV shipments will be more significant growth in 2010, is expected to 2012 OLED TV shipments will reach 3 million 750 thousand units. OLED TV shipments in the 2007 to 2012 period will have a CAGR of 234%, is expected in 2012 will have the opportunity to reach $2 billion 900 million, the rapid pace of its development. Especially after Panasonic three Japanese electronics firms (Panasonic), Canon (Canon) and Hitachi (Hitachi) announced the formation of strategic alliances, joint development of OLED panel business. To these three companies in the consumer electronics market channel strength, combined with capital and OLED technology, Sony, such as the development of the market alone, the pressure will be very large in the future. Choose cooperation, joint development is a wise choice.

So, who might be the potential strategic partners for Sony in OLED? Samsung Electronics may be the most popular choice. On the one hand, Samsung also actively developing OLED, at the 2008InternationalCES exhibition, in addition to Sony, Samsung and SDI are comparable to show the largest size of 31 inch OLED TV, the panel module thickness of only 4.3mm, equivalent to TFT-LCD panel module thickness of the traditional 1/10, and a 32 inch LCDTV panel for electricity, the picture is more delicate. Samsung can not be seen in the field of technology accumulation is not bad, just can work together with Sony to develop OLED technical problems. In addition, Samsung and Sony in the field of LCD has deep relations of cooperation, the two sides jointly invest in the construction of the LCD panel factory in S-LCD, including a 7 generation plant and a 8 generation plant, and there is news that the two sides are negotiating to jointly invest in the construction of second 8 generation plant. If the two sides to cooperate in the field of LCD, extended to the field of OLED is also possible.

However, Samsung and Sony in cooperation in the field of liquid crystal panel, in the terminal market is also very strong brand competition is very intense, but also to each other to seize market share. Then due to the Sony is still obsessed with Trinitron CRT and no one can not face the rise of fine quality, flat wave, and the loss of LCD TV development opportunities. SHARP and Panasonic became the king of the field of liquid crystal and plasma, Sony had to resort to foreign aid, common development of liquid crystal. But for the current OLED, the situation is different. Sony has advanced in this field of research and development for many years, has accumulated many technology, although there are still many problems, but Sony may not be willing to find such a strong partner like Samsung, Sony may need is a relatively weak in technology