Pioneer terminates plasma, looks to LCD, goes Blu and turns up volume

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 07 March 2008 15:13

Opinion and Analysis

Having entered into a ‘business alliance’ with Sharp Corporation last year, Pioneer says that “the two companies are conducting joint product development by making effective use of each other’s resources in their respective fields of expertise” with the “overriding goal to enhance the corporate value of both companies.”

In the field of flat-panel TVs, for example, Pioneer is taking part in Sharp’s development of acoustic systems for ultra-thin, flat-panel TVs.

By leveraging its acoustic technologies built up over many years, Pioneer “aims to develop acoustic systems employing ultra-thin speakers that still achieve outstanding sound quality for supply to Sharp.”

Furthermore, Pioneer will be supplied by Sharp with LCD TVs “based on its superior technologies” and plans to launch its own brand LCD TVs first in Europe during the European Autumn, and steadily expand its lineup of LCD TVs.

With the legacy of Pioneer’s ‘KURO’ brand of high-end plasma TVs defining Pioneer’s attention to detail, picture quality, black levels and more, Pioneer expects Sharp’s help will enable them to create LCD TVs that live up to the KURO ideals.

Sharp and Pioneer will also work together in the Blu-ray business, developing pickups and drives for Blu-ray players and recorders, special ultra-thin speakers for LCD TVs, and new devices based on the “only one device” concept.

One example given is to create “new kinds of automotive passenger cabin environments” and a linking of Sharp’s mobile phone technologies with Pioneer’s car navigation technologies, with “concrete achievements of these initiatives to be showcased at CEATEC JAPAN 2008 this fall and at various product presentations”, with CEATEC being one of Japan’s largest yearly technology exhibitions.

So, Pioneer’s relationship with Sharp draws ever closer, as the two companies work together to fight off their worldwide competitors.

Although both are global, multinational companies, clearly the likes of Sony, Samsung and up and coming Chinese/Taiwanese competitors, alongside threats from technologies such as the Laser TV and GPS everywhere is forcing consolidation in the market.

Given the additional power the linking of both these companies could generate, the developments, while signalling massive change, sound like very positive developments for both.

Just how successful it will all be is yet to be seen, but I certainly wouldn’t count either company out by any means – especially now they are working more closely than ever before.

Is an official merger on the cards in the future?