Struggling electronics maker Sharp is reportedly in talks with U.S. technology giants to form an LCD business alliance.
Kyodo news today reported that Sharp has approached Apple Inc., Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to discuss possible collaborations related to the development of LCD displays for laptops, smartphones and tablet PCs.
Sharp is reportedly considering providing the three U.S. companies with small and medium-sized IGZO power-saving LCD panels.
The report comes at a time when negotiations on a capital tie-up with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. of Taiwan have stalled.
Sharp is currently providing display panels for Apple's iPhone smartphones following a 100 billion yen investment by the U.S. tech giant and plans to expand areas of alliance with the U.S. company.
The same sources also said Sharp was in talks with several Japanese companies for the supply of indium gallium zinc oxide panels, while also negotiating with U.S. chip giant Intel to jointly develop microprocessors!
Sharp is already negotiating with Dell , Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo Group to spur sales, the report added.
The information comes from "sources close to the matter" and we still have to wait for an official word from the companies mentioned by the Japanese News agency.