Pioneer is also boosting its PDP capacity, from 50,000 to 150,000 units a year. The new fab is to begin operations in autumn 2001. But by lowering prices, we want to promote the display to the home-use TV market. Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display, a joint venture by Fujitsu and Hitachi, is the largest supplier of plasma panels, with a capacity of 10,000 units per month. Sony Corp. recently announced that it would take a 15 percent equity share in the PDP venture and contribute its TV technology.
Details are to be ironed out next month.
Sony has been selling PDP monitors based on plasma panels procured from the Fujitsu-Hitachi venture. Participation in the joint company will reinforce the relationship in terms of technology and procurement, said a Sony spokesman. All rights reserved.