A delay in producing low cost OLED display screens has forced Apple to delay the launch of their new tablet PC untill the second half of 2010.
A delay in producing low cost OLED display screens has forced Apple to delay the launch of their new tablet PC untill the second half of 2010.
According to LG Display sources who earlier this year exclusively told ChannelNews of Apple’s plan to launch an OLED display devices the big issue is the cost of a 10″ panel that Apple want to launch their device with.
While there will be a low cost version of the device featuring a TFT LCD panel Apple was hoping to launch a premium model with an OLED screen said LG sources.
Earlier this year LG Display demanded that ChannelNews pull down a story that revealed their involvement with Apple. “We don’t want to talk about our relationship with Apple, a legal representative for LG Display said.
During the past month LG Display has held several high level meetings with Apple who are concerned whether LG are ready to deliver volume production of their new OLED panels for the Apple tablet. They also concerned about quality and pricing with one source confirming that the price to Apple of a 9.7″ OLED panel from LG will be around $600.
A big issue for OLED display producers has been failure rates at the point of production. Earlier this year Sony dropped plans to launch a 27″ OLED TV because of production issues with executives telling ChannelNews that “like early plasma production OLED production has to be refined due to difficult production processes”.
LG Display, who has already revealed a 15″ OLED display screen in Korea, is making OLED panels using its 4.5G production line.
Late in 2007 Apple signed a $5 Billion dollar five deal with LG to supply display panels to Apple devices. In November 2007 they paid a $500M advance on this contract.
Analysts were estimating that the entry level tablets will be priced around $1,500 and that the OLED model will be over $2,000.
Around the world Apple executives have met with telecommunication partners as a key feature of the new device is a built in 3G wireless card that will allow users to access content on the move.
In Australia the device is expected to be launched with Optus and via Apple’s traditional retail partners and via the Apple stores.
