Originally, the electron emitter displays were to hit the market in 2005, but all we saw then was the first prototype. In the fall of 2005 at IFA, the first serial devices were expected to be presented for 2006, but at CeBIT 2006 delays of three to six months were announced. Now, the release date has been postponed even further. In July 2007, production of the 55-inch displays using SED technology is to begin at the conventional production plant in Hiratsuka City. Canon are believed to be continuing with production with a launch tipped by them in the first quarter of 2007.
The company plans to sell the first SED televisions, which will be 50", in the fourth quarter of 2007. By the beginning of 2008, Toshiba plans to be mass-producing the LCD panels at a dedicated production line in Himeji. The company has explained that the goal is to be able to serve the market in time for the Olympic Games in Beijing. Toshiba did not comment on the reason for these delays.
