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Foxconn and Sharp Enter Partnership to Advance LCD Technology
Sharp today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Foxconn/Hon Hai Precision, seeking to stabilize its own financial situation and fund investments to continue pushing LCD technology forward.
Foxconn is of course Apple's primary manufacturing partner for many of its products, while Sharp was reportedly responsible for the Retina display technology in the new iPad. But production difficulties at Sharp have resulted in the company delaying its entry into the supply chain for the iPad display as Samsung and LG have ramped their own production.
While Apple is not directly related in the partnership developments, closer ties between Foxconn and Sharp could help speed and streamline the development and adoption of new technologies that could make their way into Apple's products.
Foxconn is of course Apple's primary manufacturing partner for many of its products, while Sharp was reportedly responsible for the Retina display technology in the new iPad. But production difficulties at Sharp have resulted in the company delaying its entry into the supply chain for the iPad display as Samsung and LG have ramped their own production.
Looking at the business environment, Hon Hai Precision Industry, the key company of Hon Hai group, saw Sharp's LCD technology with high reputation, and decided to procure ultimately up to 50% of large-size LCD panels and LCD modules manufactured at the LCD panel plant in Sakai-city, Osaka, Japan. The LCD panel plant will be mutually managed by one company set by partner companies.Sharp and various Foxconn-related entities will split Sharp's existing ownership share of the cutting edge LCD plant in Sakai, while Sony will retain its 7% stake in the plant. On the corporate side, Sharp is issuing over 120 million new shares that will give Foxconn-related entities a roughly 10% ownership stake in Sharp with their investment of over $800 million.
In addition, this partnership allows each company to establish a new business model, combining each company's strength, to launch cost competitive component and products fit to market demand by utilizing Sharp's potential for the development of one-of-a-kind components and products with Hon Hai group's mounting technology and cost competitiveness.
While Apple is not directly related in the partnership developments, closer ties between Foxconn and Sharp could help speed and streamline the development and adoption of new technologies that could make their way into Apple's products.
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98 months ago
Hopefully this will decrease Apple's reliance on Samsung somewhere down the line.
98 months ago
Retina 27" iMac.... I can dream can't I? :eek:
Funny, I already have one. At a normal viewing distance, my eyes are unable to resolve individual pixels.
Amazing, isn't it? Or is it that "retina" depends heavily on viewing distance?
98 months ago
Not good for samsung. They need to get their act together.
Samsung is fine. They aren't going anywhere.
98 months ago
Heh, I've always liked Sharp.
Unlike some people on here, I'd feel much better if Apple used Sharp over Samsung. But not cause of all the sue case, I just like Sharp products better. In general with their stuff I've always had good experiences with quality and longevity as well. And honestly Samsung products for some reason always seemed to me to be second tier products when you didn't want to pay top dollar. Where as Sharp you seemed to get as good as top dollar but since they didn't have quite the name you didn't pay it.
Unlike some people on here, I'd feel much better if Apple used Sharp over Samsung. But not cause of all the sue case, I just like Sharp products better. In general with their stuff I've always had good experiences with quality and longevity as well. And honestly Samsung products for some reason always seemed to me to be second tier products when you didn't want to pay top dollar. Where as Sharp you seemed to get as good as top dollar but since they didn't have quite the name you didn't pay it.
98 months ago
I'm sure Apple are happy about this. They seem to have taken a liking to Sharp. It is their hedge against Samsung.
Yeas, because Foxconn can really help Sharp improve their LCD technology, right? Foxconn is only known for labor intensive low tech assembly lines.
98 months ago
Hopefully this will decrease Apple's reliance on Samsung somewhere down the line.
Samsung screens are superior to sharp and lg. I'm glad I have Sammy screen on my iPad.
98 months ago
i want less power consumption, more ppi and thinner displays.
we can rebuild it, we have the technology :D
98 months ago
Sharp/Samsung superiority depends entirely on the product.
People with Samsung screens in laptops/tablets/phones seem to be better off, but in terms of TV sized panels, my friends with new mid-high end Samsung models don't have nearly the same picture quality as my sister's two gorgeous Sharp Quattron TV's. Makes my 2010 Aquos look like garbage :p
People with Samsung screens in laptops/tablets/phones seem to be better off, but in terms of TV sized panels, my friends with new mid-high end Samsung models don't have nearly the same picture quality as my sister's two gorgeous Sharp Quattron TV's. Makes my 2010 Aquos look like garbage :p
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