Teco to demonstrate second-generation LCD TV models soon

Taipei, Dec. 26, 2003 (CENS)--Taiwan's Teco Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd. Will soon demonstrate its second-generation liquid crystal display (LCD) TV set models with added card reader and set-top box (STB) functions but priced higher.

Teco is also actively developing its digital versatile disc (DVD) player/recorder business considering that DVD player/recorder models would replace players as market mainstream next year.

Teco said that its second-generation LCD TV models would adopt thin film transistor (TFT)-LCD panels supplied mainly by local Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. (CMO). Wu Hung-ting, chief executive officer (CEO) of Teco Group's home appliance, air conditioner, and service business division, claimed that Teco expects to account for about 60,000 of the total about 100,000 LCD TV sales in Taiwan next year. According to Teco, next year LCD TV models are expected to account for about 10% of the annual domestic TV sales volume of one million units.

Wu claimed that his company's newly developed 30-inch LCD TV model would be equipped with stereo equipment and card reader for digital camera. The unit price of the model would be raised to about NT$75,000 to NT$79,000 (US$2,199 to US$2,316), up about NT$5,000 to NT$10,000 (US$147 to US$293) from older-generation models. With built-in STB, according to Teco, the 30-inch model would be priced at NT$84,000 to NT$89,000 (US$2,463 to US$2,610). This year, Teco expects to sell about 30,000 LCD TVs in Taiwan, accounting for over 50% of the domestic market.

Wu said that Teco expects to more actively develop its digital home appliance business in line with the advent of the Digital Home era. Teco plans to step into production of the DVD player/recorder next year and make it become one of the firm's major product lines.

Teco said that it would supply mainly two types of DVD player/recorder models, including one general type and another with built-in card readers, which would be priced at US$200 to US$300 for export. Teco claimed that its DVD player/recorder products have won warm responses from customers in the U.S., Europe and Japan and the Taiwan company is in intensive talks with them over contract supply orders.