Sharp touts for deals with big tech firms

Struggling electronics maker Sharp is negotiating deals with Microsoft, Intel, HP, Apple and Google to form a new LCD panel alliance.

Kyodo News has reported that Sharp is trying to develop an alliance which would provide joint development of screens for tablets and smartphones and could put its panels in a large number of the next wave of mobile devices.

The rumours followed the news that negotiations on a capital tie-up with Hon Hai failed.  Sharp is offering the companies small and medium-sized Igzo power-saving LCD panels with enhanced picture quality for laptops, tablets and smartphones. In return the companies will invest in the failing company.

The deals are similar to those Sharp negotiated with Apple. In that case it provided display panels for Apple’s iPhone smartphones following a huge investment by the US tech giant.

Sharp is also in talks with several Japanese companies for the supply of indium gallium zinc oxide panels, and talking to Intel about jointly developing chips.

If the plan works out then Samsung will have pre-sold its panels into many of the new batch of tablets being made by Apple, HP, and Microsoft.

Sharp has admitted that negotiations are taking place, but denied that it is looking to members of the alliance to invest in the company.