Asia
Microsoft and Huawei launch phone for Africa
February 5, 2013 11:15 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsChinese phone maker Huawei and Microsoft are combining forces to sell a new smartphone in Africa, which they say is the world's fastest growing mobile phone market. The two companies launched the Huawei 4Afrika Tuesday. The phone runs Windows Phone 8 and comes pre-loaded with applications designed for the African market.
Hitachi cuts earnings outlook on slowing growth in Asia
February 4, 2013 11:00 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsHitachi Ltd. said Monday it has revised down its group earnings outlook for the current business year through March due to the continuing economic slump in Europe and slowing growth in emerging markets including China and India.
Environment Ministry seeks delay in TEPCO thermal power
February 4, 2013 10:54 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Environment Ministry has asked the industry ministry to have Tokyo Electric Power Co. postpone its plan to hold a tender to choose suppliers of electricity generated by coal-fired thermal plants, sources close to the matter said Monday.
LG Electronics sinks to loss after EU fine
January 30, 2013 10:31 am | by YOUKYUNG LEE, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsLG Electronics Inc. reported its first quarterly loss in a year Wednesday after Europe slapped it with a massive fine for price fixing. Its net loss totaled 468 billion won ($429 million) for the last quarter of 2012, compared with a loss of 112 billion a year earlier.
US investigators ask Boeing for battery history
January 30, 2013 10:29 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach & Joan Lowy, AP Business Writers | News | CommentsU.S. investigators said Wednesday they asked Boeing Co. to provide a full operating history of lithium-ion batteries used in its grounded 787 Dreamliners after Japan's All Nippon Airways revealed it had repeatedly replaced the batteries even before overheating problems surfaced.
Funai Electric to acquire audio operations of Philips
January 29, 2013 10:28 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsFunai Electric Co. said Tuesday it will acquire the audio equipment businesses of Royal Philips Electronics later this year so it can expand its product range and improve its performance. The Osaka-based consumer electronics maker will acquire all shares to be floated by a new company that the Dutch maker will set up in the April-September period.
Mitsubishi to operate megasolar power plants in Fukushima
January 28, 2013 10:28 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsMitsubishi Corp. said Monday it plans to start operating two mega solar power plants in Fukushima Prefecture from August 2014. With their combined output planned to reach 18,000 kilowatts, the plants in the city of Iwaki can sustain some 7,000 households, according to the major trading house.
Demand for flat screen TV continues to surge across Southeast Asia
January 25, 2013 12:10 pm | by GFK | News | CommentsThe constant evolution and innovation in the world of TV technology have been successfully fueling consumer demand and driving consistent growth in the industry over the last few years. In the Southeast Asia region, flat panel TVs have continued to register a surge in demand in 2012, selling over 8.3 million units in the first eleven months of the year...
Japanese gov't fund wants to merge lithium-ion business
January 25, 2013 11:54 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA state-backed corporate turnaround fund is encouraging Sony Corp., NEC Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. to merge their lithium-ion battery businesses in the face of intensifying international competition, sources close to the matter said Friday.
Toshiba, GE to set up joint venture for thermal power generation
January 24, 2013 11:23 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsToshiba Corp. and General Electric Co. of the United States have agreed to set up a joint venture by the end of the year for the development and sales of a high-efficiency thermal power system, the Japanese electronics giant said Thursday.
Applications to extend operation of aging Japan reactors put on hold
January 23, 2013 11:15 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsJapan's nuclear regulatory authority on Wednesday decided not to accept applications from utilities seeking to extend the operation of reactors beyond 30 years under existing procedures, given that new regulations will be introduced in July.
Innovative packaging for China's smartphone market
January 23, 2013 11:09 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsSTATS ChipPAC Ltd. today announced implementation of breakthrough performance and packaging innovation in multiple advanced chipsets for the rapidly developing smartphone market in China. Spreadtrum Communications, a leading fabless semiconductor provider in China, has adopted STATS ChipPAC's packaging innovations...
Hitachi to build steam turbine generators in India
January 23, 2013 10:44 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsHitachi Ltd. said Wednesday it will build two steam turbine generators for a supercritical pressure thermal power plant to be built in India. Hitachi, which is trying to boost its presence in India, said it has received orders for the generators from India's BGR Energy Systems Ltd. and National Thermal Power Corp.
Toshiba to give presentation at IDEMA Japan
January 21, 2013 10:23 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsToshiba Corporation today announced that Yoichiro Tanaka, Ph.D., Senior Manager of Storage Products Application Engineering Department, Storage Products Division, Semiconductor & Storage Products Company, will give a presentation at IDEMA Japan January 2013 Quarterly Seminar on Friday, January 25.
Sony to launch new Xperia tablet model in Japan
January 21, 2013 10:20 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsSony Mobile Communications Inc. said Monday it will start selling a new version of its Xperia tablet computer this spring in the Japanese market, featuring a lighter body and new imaging censor. The water and dust proof Xperia Tablet Z, equipped with a 10.1-inch liquid crystal panel, is compatible with the LTE high-speed network.
China Mobile seeks Taiwan handset makers' support
January 18, 2013 11:58 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsChina Mobile is seeking support from Taiwanese chip and handset makers to back the fourth generation high-speed mobile network co-developed by the state-owned Chinese telecom operator. China Mobile chief executive Li Yue said the network adopted and promoted by the Chinese government will reach 30 percent of the Chinese population...
CEO says Sony is on track for comeback
January 18, 2013 11:14 am | by YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsSony Corp., the struggling Japanese electronics and entertainment company, is headed in the right direction although its comeback is not yet complete, its chief executive said Thursday. Kazuo Hirai told reporters that Sony is now more nimble and focused under his leadership which began nine months ago.
Sony looking to boost sales of LCD televisions in India
January 17, 2013 10:26 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsSony Corp.'s president said Thursday that the company is aiming to boost sales of liquid crystal display televisions in emerging markets such as India and Brazil, as strong replacement demand is expected in the countries.
Sharp in talks with Lenovo on LCD TV business tie-up
January 17, 2013 10:20 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsStruggling electronics maker Sharp Corp. is in talks with Lenovo Group Ltd. of China to form an alliance in the liquid crystal display television business, sources close to the matter said Thursday.
Battery in 787 swollen from overheating
January 17, 2013 10:00 am | by ELAINE KURTENBACH, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe main battery beneath the cockpit of the Boeing 787 forced to make an emergency landing in Japan was swollen from overheating, a safety official said Thursday, as aviation regulators worldwide joined the U.S. and Japan in grounding the technologically advanced aircraft because of fire risk.
Boeing 787 update
January 16, 2013 9:32 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet operated by All Nippon Airways Co. made an emergency landing Wednesday morning at Takamatsu Airport in western Japan due to smoke in the cockpit, with the transport ministry suspecting a problem related to the aircraft's main battery may have caused the incident.
Softbank update
January 14, 2013 10:59 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsSoftbank Corp. is considering selling about a 67 percent stake in smaller Japanese mobile phone service provider eAccess Ltd. to Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea and 10 other companies as early as this month, sources familiar with the situation said Saturday.
Panasonic to close plasma TV assembly plant in Shanghai
January 11, 2013 9:35 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsPanasonic Corp. will shut down its assembly plant for plasma display panel televisions in Shanghai as part of efforts to streamline its flagging TV business, company officials said Friday. Panasonic, which plans to end development of plasma display panels for TVs, will liquidate its manufacturing subsidiary...
Rikei, Singapore to sell power supply modules
January 11, 2013 9:31 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsRikei Corp. said Friday it will begin selling power supply modules made by Singapore's Recom Asia Pte Ltd. The Tokyo-based electronics parts supplier will target Recom products at corporate customers particularly in the industrial machinery, telecommunications and medical sectors.
Tokyo Electric to accept compensation claims
January 10, 2013 11:37 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsTokyo Electric Power Co. said Thursday that it intends to accept compensation claims over the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster beyond the three-year legal time limit for seeking compensation.
