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发帖数: 16371 | 1 Japan's Sharp Corp. 6753.TO -13.22% hasn't started mass producing screens
for Apple Inc.'s AAPL -1.43% next iPhone, a person with knowledge of the
situation said Friday, signaling potential supply problems for the U.S.
company as it gears up to unveil its next-generation smartphone next month.
People familiar with the situation said that Sharp 6753.TO -13.22% had
planned to start shipping iPhone screens to Apple by the end of August, but
mass production has been delayed partly because of manufacturing
difficulties. It remains unclear when the company can start shipping the
panels, one of the people said.
Sharp is one of the three suppliers of liquid-crystal-display panels for the
next iPhone. The other two suppliers are Japan Display Inc.—a new company
that combined three Japanese electronics makers' display units—and South
Korea's LG Display Co. 034220.SE -2.05%
It is unclear whether the delay at Sharp could lead to supply problems for
the new iPhone. Carolyn Wu, a Beijing-based spokeswoman for Apple, declined
to comment.
In July, people familiar with the situation said that the next iPhone will
use in-cell LCD panels, a new technology that makes the smartphone's screen
thinner by integrating touch sensors into the LCD, eliminating the need for
a separate touch-screen layer. But the people said that in-cell panels are
technologically more difficult to mass produce compared with conventional
LCD panels.
LG Display Chief Executive Han Sang-beom said last week the company began
mass producing in-cell LCD panels.
The delay in Sharp's delivery raises questions about whether Apple will be
able to secure enough iPhone screens to meet strong demand expected for the
new model.
The Wall Street Journal reported in late July, citing a person familiar with
the matter, that Apple is expected to hold an event on Sept. 12 to discuss
new products.
The stakes are high for the new iPhone. Apple's biggest competitor in the
smartphone industry, South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co., 005930.SE -1.22%
unveiled a number of new products Thursday at a trade show in Berlin,
Germany. The two companies, which together dominate the global market for
smartphones with about 50% of the market, are also locked in a legal battle
over patents for their mobile devices. Last week, a U.S. federal court jury
awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages for its patent infringement claims
against Samsung.
The delay at Sharp also comes as the Japanese electronics maker, which also
makes televisions and solar panels, is struggling to cope with a cash crunch
amid approaching debt repayment deadlines. While sitting on more than $15
billion in interest-bearing debt, Sharp has forecast a net loss of 250
billion yen ($3.18 billion) for this fiscal year through March, as its core
businesses remain unprofitable.
On Friday, Sharp's shares ended the morning session down 9.3% at ￥206, amid
concerns over the planned investment from its Taiwanese partner Hon Hai
Precision Industry Co., 2317.TW -1.05% which agreed in March to take a 9.9%
stake in the troubled Japanese company. |
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