WSJ Reports Dell and Intel May Buy or Invest in Sharp – And Sharp Debuts 4K IGZO Display

November 30, 2012 - ProAV News, rAVe [PUBS],

According to a recent Wall Street Journal story, Intel and Dell Computer are considering either buying or investing in Sharp Electronics. For now, the two companies are apparently readying an investment of over $240 Million in exchange for some corporate equity or stock exchange. In addition, San Diego-based Qualcomm is considering an investment as well.

There’s no question that Sharp’s in big trouble financially and it needs to get out of debt — and sell higher margin stuff. Sharp dominated the flat-panel market for years in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, but the company’s late jump over to DLP-based projection and LED-based LCD slowed its growth in both consumer TVs and the digital signage markets. In fact, the company isn’t even ranked in the top five in digital signage integration.

Recently, Sharp’s losses included a 16 percent decline in sales from 2011 to 2012, amounting to a nearly $470 Million loss.

Sharp, however, is the primary display manufacturer for Apple’s iPhone 5 and iPads and its new IGZO technology is impressive. IGZO is made from a mix of indium, gallium, zinc and oxide and allows for very thin active LCD displays, such as those on the aforementioned tablets and phones. It’s used for Apple’s retina displays. Sharp has now also debuted a 4K (3840×2160) LCD monitor using IGZO, the PN-K321, which will deliver in February 2013 and will likely list around $5,500. It’s also only 3.5 millimeters thick. Here are those specs (use Google Translate to read this page).

WSJ Reports Dell and Intel May Buy or Invest in Sharp – And Sharp Debuts 4K IGZO Display

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