Sony is reportedly talking with Taiwanese AU Optronics Corp. to partner to produce new-generation double-emission active matrix organic light-emit diode (AMOLED) TVs, the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun.
The report says that Sony's technicians have already been sent to AUO's L6B (6G) factory, and the two parties have begun joint development of AMOLED products, and the R&D achievements are expected to realized at AUO's L8A or/and L8B (8.5G) plants.
Sony was the first to come at the market with an OLED TV in 2007 but the sales of its model were dissapointing and the company gave up production of the $2,000 TVs in 2010. The company remains a leader in high-end and technologically advanced FPD products, but has not set up a factory to mass produce large-sized AMOLED panels. This could force Sony turn to AUO, one of its major TV-panel suppliers, for possible cooperation in AMOLED.
Loss-making Sony and AU Optronics declined to comment on the report.
An erlier unconfirmed report indicated that Sony was seeking to strike a deal with Samsung to purchase organic light-emitting diode flat-screens for its new line of TVs.
The report comes after Sony's new CEO recently suggested he was open to cooperation in new TV technologies as he outlined a turnaround strategy for his company.
Sony is likely to form an alliance with a third party since it would be difficult for it to capture more share in the OLED TV area alone, as Sony's South Korean rivals LG and Samsung have displayed prototype 55-inch OLED screens at the CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas.