Toshiba and Matsushita have announced they plan to introduce organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels for use in televisions within three years via a joint venture, Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Company, (TMD). The joint venture has introduced a 20.8-inch OLED display panel, and aims to begin commercial production of OLED panels for flat-screen televisions by 2009. The 20.8-inch panel offers a resolution of 1,280 by 768 pixels (WXGA) and handles 16.7 million colors. No specifications on contrast, brightness, or refresh rates have been released, but such specs wouldn't necessarily be indicative of OLED displays to be released in three years' time. TMD's 20.8-inch display will be on show at the third annual FPD Expo (Display 2007) in Tokyo from April 11 to 13. 

OLED panels emit light from electroluminescent films stored on the display's glass substrate; OLED displays consume very little power, provide wide viewing angles, thin profiles, and high contrast. The TMD display uses three color-emitting layers (red, blue, and green) and applies each using an ink-jet like coating process. The company says it is managing light at the nanometer level in individual pixels to improve efficiency, raise brightness, and lower power consumption.

Well, Sony already showed off real, working OLED displays at CES in January. As I recall, Sony is targeting 2008 for release. So Toshiba and Matsushita are way behind...