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Epson to expand imaging domains

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CIOL Bureau
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CHINA: Epson is desperately trying to change its image from being just a printer company to something that is centered around printers, projectors, displays and core devices that links all of these. In a move to implement the changes, Epson initiated the SE07 plan in 2002, which is a sequel to the SE05 plan that was initiated in 2001.





SE07 details Epson's mid-to-long term corporate vision, which is now being narrowed down to what they call the "3i's". "The year since SE05 was established, the economy and the IT industry went through serious changes and hence the need for SE07 was felt," said Epson executive VP, Toshio Kimura.





The 3i's are essentially the three imaging domains, which Epson has identified for its future business until the year 2007. i1 is 'imaging on paper' where the company's printer products plays the key role; i2 focuses on the 'imaging on screen' through its projectors and i3 stands for the 'imaging on glass' which are the LCD TFT display products for mobile phones and digital cameras. Each of these three is a means for displaying a digital still or moving images.





Through 3i's, Epson hopes to achieve the concept of digital image innovation that will drive the company's growth till 2007. "By targeting the convergence of these imaging domains, we believe it will provide cutting-edge imaging solutions that create a symbiosis of still and moving images supporting richer communications and bringing color to the lives of people around the world," said Kimura.





Under i1, the future business strategy is ubiquitous printing, which enables a person to print from not only a PC, but also from a digital camera, mobile phone, digital television, or a variety of other devices, regardless of location.



Epson imaging & information products operations division director, Seiichi Hirano explained how factors such as a worldwide surge in demand for digital cameras has fuelled requirements for high quality printing in the convenience of the home. This has been aided by environmental changes such as the growth in popularity of camera-equipped mobile phones and digital broadcasting contents. By taking advantage of these trends, Epson plans to create a new photo culture where "Epson = Photo."





The focus of i2 is to expand the market for projectors, equipment used to display images on to a screen. Based on its proprietary 3LCD technology, Epson has cemented a world-leading market share for its projectors. "3LCD has become the dominant technology for projectors, being employed in approximately 80 percent of the projectors in the world today," said director and chief executive of Seiko Epson's visual instruments operations division, Kenji Uchida.





Driven forward by 3LCD, Epson's technology can be found in a wide range of products including projectors for home and business use and LCD projection TVs, such as the Epson Livingstation, which was launched earlier in the year in the US and Japan. The Livingstation, which is reasonably priced compared to other large TVs of a similar size, is set to take advantage of the expected proliferation of high-definition TV (HDTV).





The recent announcement of the prototype of the world's largest OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display created using Epson's unique inkjet technology was one of the products that illustrates Epson's commitment to the new strategy. "OLED's high contrast, wide viewing angle and fast response time, makes many believe that it will be the TV technology of the future," said Seiko Epson Corp MD Masao Akahane.



In i3, Epson is pursuing the development of a wide range of original technology for mobile display including LCDs.

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