Samsung’s CEO of the OLED division has shared his thoughts about the future of the display market and OLED technology in an interview with Korea Times. Interestingly, he says that he believes that Chinese and Japanese display manufacturers may threaten Samsung in the OLED segment.

OLED may shift the balance of power
Cho Soo-in, CEO of Samsung Mobile Display that controls Samsung's OLED development and production, does not feel comfortable about Samsung’s competitive position in the OLED segment. Despite the fact that South Korean Samsung and LG have 55-inch OLED-TVs coming later in 2012, he believes that the Japanese and Chinese display makers pose a significant threat. It is an interesting reflection since none of the Japanese display makers – Sony, Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba – have unveiled any OLED-TV products.


Samsung will launch their 55” OLED-TV in 2012 but Samsung considers the Japanese and Chinese manufacturers a threat

Cho Soo-in says that the Japanese display makers have a competitive advantage in OLED material (used to create OLED pixels) and collaborations. He also says that the Chinese display manufacturers are becoming stronger, expanding rapidly, and has received support from the Chinese government.

He expects to see the first OLED panels to roll out of China in 2013, and he expects them to join the OLED race full-heartedly. Today, the Chinese display manufacturers are still considered “small” but Cho Soo-in believes that the balance of power may shift during the transition from LCD to OLED production.

Samsung and LG plan to launch 55-inch OLED-TVs later this year. Panasonic is working on OLED-TVs, and Sony plans to invest heavily in OLED technology in the future. Sharp has no concrete plans to initiate OLED production at the point.

Also, see our article on the Chinese display manufacturers here, and learn much more about OLED in our OLED section.

- Source: Korea Times