14 DAY TRIAL // Dell has contacted panel makers for 19-inch widescreen LCD monitor panels, according to Digitimes. Taiwan-based AU Optronics (AUO) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) are expected to win the orders from Dell.
CMO currently is the largest supplier for 19-inch widescreen LCD monitor panels with monthly output totaling nearly 800000 units, while Samsung Electronics saw monthly 19-inch widescreen panel output reach 300000 units in September, the sources pointed out. AUO is catching up with Samsung with monthly shipments doubling nearly to 300000 units in September, up from 150,000 units in August.
It seems panel makers are building up their capacity for 19-inch widescreen monitor panels, but the supply for the segment is still currently tight. LG.Philips LCD is also considering the 19-inch widescreen panel market as industry sources noted that the Korea-based company may begin producing 19-inch widescreen panels at its new 5.5-generation (5.5G) plant which is expected to enter volume production in 2007. So far, Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT) is the only Taiwanese panel maker that is not involved in 19-inch widescreen LCD monitor panel production.
According to research firm DisplaySearch, 19-inch widescreen LCD monitors accounted for 4.1% of the global LCD monitor market in the second quarter. The segment, which grabbed 54.6% of the total second-quarter widescreen LCD monitor market, surpassed 1.2 million units during the period, the same firm stated. The LCD monitor market was dominated by 17-inch SXGA products in the second quarter, which had a 52.7% share. Dell was the number one LCD monitor vendor in the second quarter of 2006, according to Display Search.
