Sony announced at CES this week that it is start selling super-thin television sets based on Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology. The company had previously announced sales only in Japan from the beginning of this year.
Sony OLED technology offers only 3-millimeter thick TVs
Sony is showcasing its OLED TVs at CES this year. Proponents predict that they could replace LCD and plasma TVs. The technology requires no backlight as each picture element produces its own luminosity – hence the ability to produce ultra slim designs.
Sony showcases prototype 27 inch OLED TV at CES 2008
“The name of the game at CES and at Sony remains the next champion product,” Sony CEO Howard Stringer said at the Sony press conference. “Once in a great while a product comes along that not only has the ability to set the standard for others to strive for but symbolizes where Sony is as a company today as well as our direction for the future. I believe we have such a product.”
Sleak design that could possibly replace LCD and plasma TV
In Japan, where Sony launched it in December last year, sales were positive and Sony sold out it’s monthly production run of 2,000 units almost immediately despite the high price. OLED promises a brighter screen, lower power consumption and is expected to eventually be cheap to manufacture. Additionally, the displays offer a contrast ratio of approximately one million to one.
Sony said it would immediately start selling an 11-inch version of the 3-millimeter thick TV for about $2,500 in the United States. However, the company has no firm plans to bring the television to UK or the rest of Europe.
OLED offers a brighter screen and lower power consumption
“You are going to see us do bigger sizes down the road. It is a new technology that is going to take several years before it competes with plasma and LCD,” said a Sony spokesperson. Sony is demonstrating a prototype of a 27 inch OLED TV which it hopes to launch on the market in the near future – although no details have so far been announced.