ueb123

Sanyo Electric announced a contract with Sharp for buying liquid crystal display panels (LCD panels) to use in Sanyo flat-

screen TVs sold in North America. The two firms also suggested a future joint development of kitchen appliances. Sanyo has

bet its future on rechargeable batteries and solar cells, and is intensifying investment in these businesses amid a

disappointing performance by its consumer electronics operation. "We hope to expand our business by having a mutually

complementary relationship with Sharp," said Sanyo spokesperson Yuko Hosaka. "Sharp's strength in LCD is part of that." Sanyo

said it started procuring LCDs from Sharp in April, and would also continue procurement from other suppliers. Sanyo sold

about a million LCD TVs in North America in the business year that ended on 31 March. Sharp, the world's third-largest LCD TV

maker behind Samsung Electronics and Sony, has been trying to secure a stable source of demand for its LCD panels from rival

TV set makers as it aggressively invests in expanding output. It is planning to spend 380 billion yen to build a new LCD

plant in Japan, scheduled to start production by March 2010. Sony, Toshiba and Pioneer have said they plan to buy LCD panels

from Sharp. Sanyo announced on Thursday that it had returned to the black for the first time in four years, helped by robust

sales of rechargeable batteries and digital cameras, and said profit would jump this year on the sale of its cell phone unit.

But its traditional home electronics business, including cooking appliance and refrigerators, remained in the red.

Pakistani Technology Upgrading and Skill Development Company (Tusdec) is planning to establish public facility centers in

Lahore and Karachi at a cost of Rs5.7 billion to facilitate development of the country’s electronics industry and to reduce

dependence on imports. Disclosing this, a Tusdec spokesman said here on Wednesday that the country was spending over

$1billion per annum on importing cellular phones alone because it had not developed its electronic sector despite the fact

that it had become the most lucrative market in the world with an annual turnover of $1.2 trillion. Pakistan's electronics

sector basically focused on consumer electronics, with activities confined to assembly of conventional TV sets, radio,

cassette recorders and other allied consumer electronics products using CKD or SKD component kits, imported mostly from

China. The share of electronics in country's manufacturing sector was merely three per cent. The spokesman said that Tusdec

was establishing the Lahore Electronics Complex at a cost of Rs2.7 billion with focus on cellular phones and telecom sectors

and Karachi Electronics Complex at a cost of Rs3 billion to cater to the requirements of consumer and home appliances

industry including liquid crystal display, television, computer monitors and multimedia products. The centers were designed

to support and help grow the local industry through 'economy of scale', supply of sub-assemblies and kits at competitive

prices to those being otherwise imported from China and nearby countries. The economy of scale supply would contribute

significantly to the lowering of cost of electronics products in the country with respect to other players in the

international market.

A New York supreme judge has ruled that home computer maker Dell engaged in fraud, false advertising, deceptive business

conduct and abusive debt collection practices. New York State Supreme Court Judge Joseph Teresi said Dell lured customers

with advertisements offering "no interest" or "no payment" financing options, but its financing arm would charge higher

rates. Supreme Court Justice Joseph C. Teresi will hold further proceedings to determine how much restitution Dell will have

to pay to its customers, the decision said. Dell said disagreed with Teresi's decision. "We don't agree with this decision

and will be defending our position vigorously. Our goal has been, and continues to be, to provide the best customer

experience possible," the company said in a statement. "We are confident that when the proceedings are finally completed the

court will determine that only a relatively small number of customers have been affected," it said.