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23 May, 2012

Sony and Samsung enforcing minimum pricing on TVs

Sony and Samsung enforcing minimum pricing on TVs
By Sam Byford on May 23, 2012 04:53 am

Samsung and Sony have both started restricting retailers from offering discounts on TVs. The Wall Street Journal reports that the move is designed to protect both the manufacturers' margins and the retailers' profits by preventing "showrooming," where customers check out models in person before buying them for less online. Showrooming was reportedly behind Target's recent decision to stop carrying Kindle hardware, with a source citing a "conflict of interest" in promoting Amazon's products.

Apple has similarly strict policies, and Sony itself already controls the retail price of certain products such as game consoles. However, there is concern that the enforcement of minimum TV prices could drive customers to products from competitors that allow discounting, such as LG and Panasonic. Last month we saw hikes of over $1000 on Sony sets that seemed to confirm its move to a premium pricing strategy, and minimum prices for Samsung's 2012 HDTV lineup leaked back in February. Samsung has also said that it's comfortable with placing a relatively high premium on its laptops.

While it certainly isn't surprising that Sony needs to take drastic measures to put its TV business back in the black, Samsung's division is in fairly rude health. It's understandable that the Korean manufacturer would want to maximize profits, but its ability to compete on price has been instrumental in eclipsing its Japanese rivals. We're not sure how this will end up working out for Samsung and Sony, but one thing is clear — we shouldn't expect to see their TVs on sale anytime soon.

Source: THEverge

10 May, 2012

Samsung Galaxy S III in Pictures

Galaxy S III

Source: Mashable

Samsung’s 55-Inch OLED TV Will Cost $9,000 [REPORT]

Samsung’s 55-Inch OLED TV Will Cost $9,000 [REPORT]
10/05/2012 by Stan Schroeder on Mashable

If you’re not satisfied with the current LED/LCD TV offerings, and can’t wait for OLED technology to burst onto the big screen scene, you’re in luck: Samsung will launch OLED TVs in the second half of 2012, the AP reports.

Two potential obstacles might prevent you from getting one, though: The TVs will initially be launched in South Korea, at a price of 10 million won, which is approximately $8,750.

For comparison, 55-inch LCDs from Samsung can be bought for as little as $1,000, while high-end models go up to $3,000.

While the Korean launch means we’ll probably see OLED TVs in the global market soon thereafter, Samsung’s head of TV business said it will take two or three more years for OLED TV technology to go mainstream.

Samsung showcased the 55-inch OLED TVs at this year’s CES, amazing us with their thinness, sharpness and color quality.

Source: Mashable

20 February, 2012

Samsung Electronics board approves LCD unit spin off

Samsung Electronics has moved a step closer to spinning off its Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) unit after its board of directors approved the plan.

The firm said it will launch the spun-off unit, Samsung Display Company Ltd, as a new corporation on 1 April.

The move, which still needs shareholder approval, comes amid slowing demand and falling profits for LCD products.

Samsung said it was planning to focus on new technologies to maintain its edge over the competition.

"The spin-off will allow us to make quicker business decisions and respond to our clients' needs more swiftly," said Donggun Park, executive vice president and head of Samsung's LCD business.

"Through enhancements in business competitiveness, we will continue to provide superior products and services for the market," he added.

'Commoditised business'
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It is unclear whether it's a good move or not - you never know until a few quarters have gone by”

Jasper Kim
Asia-Pacific Global Research Group
LCD manufacturers worldwide have been going through a tough time in recent years.

Not only has demand for the product been slowing, increased supply has also seen manufacturers slash their prices in a bid to attract consumers.

Analysts said that the sector had lost its niche factor and that had hurt electronics makers.

"LCD used to be one of the cutting edge technologies but it is now a commoditised business," Jasper Kim, chief executive and founder of Asia-Pacific Global Research Group told the BBC.

"It can be replicated and reproduced easily," he added.

Samsung is the world's biggest TV and flat screen maker and is likely to be affected the most by a slowdown in the sector.

Analysts said while the move was part of Samsung's efforts to ensure that it remained highly competitive, it was too early to say whether it was a step in the right direction.

"It is unclear whether it's a good move or not - you never know until a few quarters have gone by," Mr Kim said.

15 February, 2012

Samsung mulls LCD unit spin-off amid falling demand

LCD

South Korea's Samsung Electronics has said it is considering spinning-off its Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) unit in a bid to streamline its business.

The move comes as the unit saw its sales dip more than 10% last year amid slowing demand. Falling prices of LCD panels have also dented profits.

The firm said it was planning to focus on new technology such as the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.

Samsung is the world's largest TV and flat-screen maker.

"The LCD business is not good enough now and I think that Samsung is looking to focus on new business," Annabelle Hsu of IDC told the BBC.

Chinese competition
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New LCD production lines established by Chinese vendors are a major reason why the industry remains in an oversupply situation”

Annabelle Hsu
IDC
Samsung is not the only electronics firm that has been struggling to keep its LCD unit profitable.

South Korean rival LG and Japan's Sony, the other two major players in the sector, have experienced similar problems.

Analysts said that while demand had been slow, the manufacturers had also hurt themselves by producing too many units.

"We believe that the LCD segment worldwide is in an over-supply situation," said IDC's Ms Hsu.

She explained that, since supply outstripped demand, the panel makers have had to cut costs in an attempt to attract customers and that has hurt profit margins.

At the same time, Chinese firms have also entered the industry, a move that analysts say has made global manufacturers worry that prices may fall even further given China's low-cost base.

"New LCD production lines established by Chinese vendors are a major reason why the industry remains in an over-supply situation," Ms Hsu added.

Displaying promise?
While growth in the LCD sector is slowing, the OLED segment is expected to boom in the coming years.

Analysts said while these displays were being mainly used in smartphones currently, they expect a much wider use across other products, including TVs, in the near future.

According to some estimates, Samsung's OLED revenues are expected to increase by almost 600% by 2014.

Samsung's subsidiary Samsung Mobile Display (SMD) enjoys a huge market share in the segment and there has been growing speculation that the firm may merge SMD with its LCD business.

Source: BBC