This is not the first time the two Japanese companies have collaborated on OLED displays, but this time they are focusing on medium size OLED displays and tablets - not TVs.
Will start operating in January
Panasonic, Sony, Japan Display and a innovation fund owned by the Japanese government and private companies have established JOLED Inc. in a goal to develop and mass produce OLED for handheld devices.
The new company will start operating in January 2015, but no technical details regarding the OLED displays were announced. Panasonic and Sony recently tried to collaborate to bring OLED TVs to the market, but the partnership has since been cancelled. However, both Sony and Panasonic are said to be in talks with LG.Display about using its OLED panels in their TVs.
- “JOLED will bring together world-leading OLED display technologies from Sony and Panasonic, including use of printing technology for OLED production, transparent amorphous oxide semiconductors, and flexible display technology. In addition, JOLED plans to take advantage of JDI’s wide-ranging portfolio of display technologies. JOLED’s aim is to become the leader in the global OLED display market.”
Sony and Panasonic will integrate current research and move employees into the new company, but only hold 5 % of the voting rights each. INCJ under the Japanese government will hold 75% and Japan Display will hold 15%.
LG is currently leading the OLED TV market, whereas Samsung is producing millions of OLED displays for its handheld Galaxy devices.
- Source: Press release
