[By Kim Yoo-chul, KoreaTimes]
It would remain secret to the last minute what is in the mind of Hewlett-Packard (HP) CEO Leo Apotheker, who took charge of the global juggernaut late last year, on the firm’s strategies on three-dimensional (3D) technologies.
Under his stewardship, HP can adopt either the mainstream active-shutter glasses (SG) or the alternative film patterned retarder (FPR) on its products like desktops, laptops and monitors.
People may have a reason to pick the latter.
On his visit to Seoul early this month, Apotheker met top executives of LG, which works on FPR, to check the advantages and flaws of the technology. It is not known whether he visited Samsung Electronics that is betting on SG.
“LG Electronics Vice Chairman Koo Bon-joon briefed about the strengths of the FPR technology to Apotheker during his visit,” said a senior executive of LG Group, who is closely involved in the matter, Sunday.
“The HP CEO was impressed by the FPR tech and the talks were quite constructive.”
Based on the high-profile meeting, the executive said that LG Display, the sister firm of LG Electronics, is in consultations with HP on contracts.
“LG Display is currently in talks with HP to sell FPR 3D-enabled panels to the U.S.-based firm,” said the executive, who asked not to be named.
LG Display spokesman Sohn Young-june admitted that the outfit has contacted HP with regard to the FPR 3D panels although he refused to elaborate while an HP official refused to comment.
Market observers point out that HP has a reason to opt for the FPR option instead of the SG technology in consideration of the former’s price competitiveness, which may be the top priority for HP products of monitors or laptops.
Unlike the SG solution, LG’s FPR tech uses a film applied to a screen that makes the screen cheaper. Glasses are also inexpensive at below $10, while SG glasses are conversely quite costly at over $60 as it uses lithium batteries.
Since last year, HP has been strengthening its flagship lineups and it has plans to introduce more 3D-enabling models, according to industry sources.
“Considering HP’s moves to release 3D-compatible laptops to meet growing consumer demands for the new technology and more gaming content, chances are high that LG makes a deal with HP,” the LG executive said.
If LG Display can successfully persuade HP, already one of its biggest clients, to ink a formal agreement, the Seoul-headquartered company would gain great momentum to push FPR technologies to the forefront in the global scene.
Then, it would expand its shares in the lucrative 3D industries.
LG, which supplies LCD panels in a variety of sizes for use in consumer electronics applications including computers, monitors and TV sets, counts Dell, Acer, Lenovo and Apple on top of HP as customers.
“It’s a two-track strategy. LG is in action to boost its customer base not only from TV makers but also PC majors for wide use of its new tech. I personally say that does make sense,” said an analyst at a Europe-based investment bank in Seoul on the condition of anonymity.
In competition with SG, the FPR side is benefitting in addition to the possible partnership with HP.
LG Display CEO Kwon Young-soo said recently that Sony is also considering using its 3D technology to produce 3D televisions and the firm has already briefed the tech to the Tokyo-based outfit.
Should Sony jump onboard, it would deal a big blow to Samsung since Sony originally supported SG technology.
Additional good news is coming from the markets as surveyed by iSuppli, a California-based market research firm.
FPR technology gained popularity over the Chinese New Year holiday sales period with consumers buying more FPR 3D TVs compared to SG ones, and accounted for the majority of 3D TVs sold in China.
“Even more encouraging is that Chinese manufacturers and retailers are enthusiastic about the FPRS as sales of local TV brands outpaced foreign ones during the Lunar New Year season, even though non-Chinese brands are still leading the 3D television market,’’ iSuppli said.
See the original post here; http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2011/03/133_83477.html