AUSTIN, TEXAS, April 13, 2010The popularity of e-books, particularly Amazons Kindle, drove electronic paper display (EPD) shipments to 5 million units in 2009, up 417% from 950 thousand in 2008, according to the DisplaySearch Q110 Quarterly Small/Medium Shipment and Forecast Report. DisplaySearch has added e-books to this report for all sizes, including applications using displays 9 and larger, such as Amazons newest Kindle DX.

Seeing this growth for a new application, especially in the second half of last year, is a vote of confidence from consumers who seem to have embraced e-books, said Hiroshi Hayase, DisplaySearch Director of Small/Medium Displays. Momentum from e-book popularity last year combined with new, larger-screen products hitting the market right now means that this trend will continue, so we will see large shipment volume increases in the first half of 2010.

Figure 1: EPD Shipment for E-Books

Source: Quarterly Small/Medium Shipment and Forecast Report

Amazons Kindle e-book, with a 6 display, captured 66% of the total EPD market in 2009. This market domination is expected to increase as the Kindle DX, with a 9.7 display, is positioned to compete with Apples iPad, released earlier this month, which uses a 9.7 TFT LCD.

Boosted by success from e-books thus far, Amazon is expanding its service offering to help customers access more timely books at low cost. We expect to see other service providers increase their presence in the US and expand e-book adoption in Europe and Asia as well, Hayase added.

Figure 2: EPD for E-Book Market Share by Size

Source: Quarterly Small/Medium Shipment and Forecast Report

The DisplaySearch Quarterly Small/Medium Shipment and Forecast Report tracks shipments of all flat panel display technologies such as TFT LCD, PM LCD, AM, PM OLED and EPD for all applications using FPDs up to 9.0. EPD reporting will also include displays for e-books over 9, including market share of e-books by size and resolution. The report also provides comparisons between applications, suppliers, size, resolution and pricing for FPD technologies using panels that are 9.0 or smaller. This report is delivered in PowerPoint and includes Excel pivot tables. If you need further information or assistance please contact Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452, e-mail contact@displaysearch.com or contact your regional DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan.

Learn more about the e-paper market at the SID DisplaySearch Business Conference on May 24 during SID Display Week in Seattle, Washington. For more information on these events, visit www.displaysearch.com/events.