Sony to Invest Approximately 22 Billion Yen to Strengthen Middle and Large Size OLED Panel Production Technology

JCN Newswires, Feb 19, 2008

Tokyo, Japan, Feb 19, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - Sony Corporation today announced that it plans to invest approximately 22 billion yen to strengthen middle and large size OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panel production technology. With this investment, Sony intends to accelerate the shift to middle and large size, high image quality OLED panels.

Sony began researching OLED technology in 1994, and has since positioned OLED as a future next-generation display technology. In December 2007, Sony launched the world's first OLED TV, "XEL-1" in Japan, incorporating Sony's proprietary "Organic Panel" to realize extreme thinness and superb image quality through a high contrast ratio, high peak brightness, accurate color reproduction and rapid response time.

In order to advance the shift towards middle and large size, high image quality OLED panels, Sony has decided to invest from the second half of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 towards the further development of production technologies. Sony will reinforce its TFT (thin film transistor) and EL (electroluminescent) layer coating processing facilities at Sony Mobile Display Corporation's Higashiura factory, and plans to implement this production technology during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010.

Sony plans to continue to advance the development of OLED panels, positioning the OLED panel as a new device capable of expanding the future potential of televisions and other AV products.

Investment Overview

Purpose of investment:   Strengthen middle and large size
                         OLED panel production technology
Investment amount:       Approximately 22 billion yen (planned)
Investment timeframe:    From the second half of the fiscal year
                         ending March 31, 2009
Investment site:         Higashiura factory,
                         Sony Mobile Display Corporation
                         (Higashiura-cho, Chita-gun, Aichi prefecture,
                         Japan)
Investment details:      TFT infrastructure,
                         EL layer coating infrastructure
Size of glass substrate: 600mm X 720mm
Products:                Sony Home / Personal / Professional Displays

About Sony

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $70 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. For more information, please visit the Sony Global Web Site at www.sony.net .

Source: Sony

Contact:

Sony Corporation
Corporate Communications
Tel:  81-3-6748-2200
Fax:  81-3-6748-2061

Japan Corporate News Network. All rights reserved.