Samsung Electronics yesterday called for a standardization of LCD glass sizes in a speech by its LCD Business president, Sang Wan Lee, delivered as the opening keynote at the Society for Information Display (SID) 2005 International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition. During the speech titled "LCD Revolution -- The Third Wave," Mr. Lee emphasized the need for LCD glass manufacturers to standardize large-size TV displays globally to 40-inch, 46-inch, 52-inch and 57-inch sizes. "To save on equipment development and product costs, as well as to accelerate the time-to-market for advanced large screen LCD TVs, the entire industry should come together and cooperate toward size standardization."

Mr. Lee also said the industry can expect glass substrate sizes of 2160x2460mm and 2400x2800mm, with the coming of 8G and 9G technology, respectively. Mr. Lee said he believes that the next generation of LCD glass will eclipse the current technology in many ways as LCD TVs become the most widely adopted display technology in the world. "Moving forward, TV products will move beyond their role as broadcasting reception devices and become the center of tomorrow's digital convergence environment, receiving and providing a wide range of multimedia contents and services."

"The market is not something to be passively predicted, but actively created," asserted Mr. Lee. "In order to develop an annual, 100 million-unit LCD TV market by 2010 and firmly establish the next-generation TV as an LCD TV to consumers, the LCD panel industry needs to work together to establish standardized plate and product sizes. The materials, equipment, OEM and distribution industries should continue with their cost-saving efforts as well, to establish a mass market."