Kindle manufacturer to buy E Ink
Taiwan-based Prime View International has signed a definitive agreement to acquire E Ink Corporation for approximately US$215 million, the two companies said in a joint statement on Monday.
Prime View and E Ink will become a dominant force in the growing electronic reader segment. Prime View manufacturers Amazon's Kindle and a number of other products, and E Ink has developed the digital-ink technology that makes electronic readers easier on the eyes compared to traditional computer screens. They support about 20 manufacturers worldwide, according to a statement.
Prime View has been building a dominant position in the electronic reader segment since it acquired the ePaper business of Philips Electronics in 2005.
The two companies see a rosy future for electronic readers. In 2008, 1.1 million units were sold, and it's expected 20 million units will sell annually by 2012, according to data from market research company iSuppli. Prime View and E Ink therefore aim to increase manufacturing capacity once the deal is finalized.
A shortage of screens has plagued the nascent electronic reader segment. One e-reader maker, Foxit Software, said in March there was a four- to six-week lead time to get more screens from E Ink, which held up production.
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2009.
IDG News Service
Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world
On Twitter now
kindle
Powered by Twitter
Esther Schindler
If the comments are ugly, the code is ugly
claird
SVG a graphics format for 21st century
pasmith
Take Chrome OS for a test spin
Sandra Henry-Stocker
Solaris Tip: Have Your Files Changed Since Installation?
jfruh
Android fragments vs. the iPhone monolith
mikelgan
What Gizmodo missed about the Pro WX Wireless USB disk drive
Where Google Chrome security fails: the password
I heard mention that the Chrome OS will have some sort of encryption available a la bitlocker. If it's possible to encrypt personal data using another password or key, then it may have potential for very secure data.... And Ubuntu has an 'encrypt home directory' option, perhaps google should follow suit.
- Dann
Join the conversation here
Quick, practical advice for IT pros. Made fresh daily.
Want to cash in on your IT savvy? Send your tip to tips@itworld.com. If we post it, we'll send you a $25 Amazon e-gift card.
