Toshiba and Sharp LCD alliance signed

JAPANESE electronics giants Toshiba and Sharp have decided to join forces to fight LCD panel competition from South Korea and Taiwan.

The long-term rivals are expected to announce details of the plan later today.

According to AP, analysts have been expecting such a move for some time. The feeling is that the Japanese companies need to work together if they are going to outsmart the foreign competition.

It is expected that the latest deal will see Toshiba buying Sharp LCD panels.

This will mean that it will have a steady supply of panels without having to make them itself.

Toshiba had been a member of the Matsushita-Hitachi LCD partnership but looks like it was left in the cold when those two signed up with Canon instead. µ

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