A New Milestone for -Sharp

Today Sharp announced they passed the 10 million Mark for One-Seg Mobile Phone Shipments. Impressive when you know there are 120 Million people in Japan! Congratulations Sharp!!!

In late May 2008, Sharp passed the 10-million mark for shipments of One-Seg-compatible
mobile phones in Japan. One-Seg is a terrestrial digital broadcasting service for mobile
devices in Japan. In the two years since the release of its first One-Seg mobile phone in
May 2006, Sharp has become the first in the industry*1 to reach 10 million shipments of
One-Seg mobile phones.
In addition to making it easy to enjoy TV programs on the go, One-Seg mobile phones
feature the vivid clarity of digital broadcasting and the convenience of data broadcasts and
an EPG (electronic program guide). These mobile phones have succeeded in penetrating
deep into markets, with shipments topping 30 million units industry-wide as of April 2008*2.
Sharp’s first One-Seg mobile phone had a ‘cycloid-style’ LCD screen that could be rotated
horizontally 90 degrees. This offered a unique way of enjoying TV on a mobile phone that
was a big hit with consumers. Sharp has also made it possible to display clear, vivid
high-quality images by equipping its mobile phones with the Mobile Advanced Super View
LCD, based on based on LCD technology cultivated through the development of AQUOS
LCD TVs, and the SV (Super Vivid) Engine, which reproduces beautiful colors and sharply
defined outlines
.
In the spring of 2007 Sharp followed up the cycloid-style model with the release of variously
designed mobile phones, including dual-hinged*3 and slider*4 designs. Knowing that user
needs diversify with rising demand, shipments of One-Seg phones have increased from a
total of five million (as of the end of October 2007) to 10 million in a mere seven months.
Sharp will continue to create new demand by developing and marketing mobile phone
products that anticipate a wide range of user needs.
*1 For One-Seg-compatible mobile phones as of June 12, 2008.
*2 JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association) published data.
*3 Clam-shell mobile phones with hinges that allow the LCD screen to face different directions.
*4 Mobile phones with a sliding display section that allows the operating section to be pulled out
from underneath.