Samsung Mobile Display is reportedly poised to supply liquid-crystal display panels for the next version of Apple’s iPad, industry sources said on Wednesday.
According to sources, the company, established in January 2009, is in the final stage of talks on supplying its latest LCD panels for Apple’s iPad 2, which is expected to be released later this year.
In response to such reports, a spokesman at Samsung Mobile Display said he had nothing to comment about the issue. Steve Park, a representative of Apple Korea, also said he had nothing to comment about the “rumors.”
The news about the possible deal between Samsung and Apple Inc. caught attention in Korea for Apple has been purchasing LCD panels for the iPad from many firms, including LG Display and others in Japan and Taiwan, other than Samsung.
The list of suppliers, however, is expected to change mainly because of the LCD panel’s unit price, according to Yonhap News Agency.
It was further reported that Apple is interested in Samsung Mobile Display’s Super Plane to Line Switching (PLS) displays ― first unveiled in November last year ― which enable the company to deliver more and improved viewing angles.
The target market for Super PLS displays are smartphones and tablet PCs.
“Although Samsung is performing well in the smart device market with its Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab, it was probably difficult to ignore Apple’s strong influence in the market,” said an industry source. “Samsung did supply a large amount in the semiconductor field to Apple, but it did lag a little behind in displays, which is why becoming the main LCD panel supplier for the iPad 2 would have an impact.”
By Cho Ji-hyun (
sharon@heraldcorp.com)
