Smaller manufacturers roll out new high-tech television products

Medium-sized companies are releasing new television sets that have other high-tech features, such as MP3 players. They are digging into niche markets by integrating new ideas into their products. Although they are focusing mainly on exports because of low brand recognition here, some makers are openly professing their desire to compete with large companies such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics in the domestic market. ERAE Electronics Industry Co., a manufacturer of display panels, recently unveiled a 42-inch high definition plasma display panel television that can be used as a personal computer when linked to a computer hard drive and high-speed Internet access. The television has various programs enabling Internet surfing, games, and word processing. Like an ordinary PC, it has ports to connect a keyboard, mouse, speakers and LAN line. “We will continue to develop high added-value household appliances that are grafted with information communications technology in the future,” the company said. Diboss Co., a liquid crystal display, or LCD, television manufacturer that has its own technology, recently developed a 40-inch Internet LCD television called IMTV, short for Internet Multimedia TV. It contains a separate board for Internet and multimedia features and does not have to be linked to a computer. With just a LAN or ADSL connection, one can log on to the Internet by using a remote control or wireless keyboard. Photo images on one’s digital camera can also be viewed and edited on the TV screen by linking through a USB port. The company also released a special LCD television for the Middle East market. It contains a program that shows the text of the Koran on the screen and reads its contents aloud during prayer time. Decktron Co. developed the first 42-inch plasma display panel TV in Korea that contains a personal video recording device with high definition. ERAE hopes to run up sales of more than 200 billion won ($174 million) this year. “By developing new products, we plan to enter the domestic TV market as well,” said President Jung Moon-sik. The firm’s newly developed product will be exported first before it hits local markets around the end of the year. The approximate retail price will be 4.7 million won. by Lee Hyun-sang, Wohn Dong-hee