Huge growth set for pico projectors in cell phones, other mobile electronics

EL SEGUNDO, USA: Because of their capability to overcome screen-size limitations in mobile electronics devices, tiny pico projectors embedded into products such as smart phones are set for a staggering sixtyfold growth in shipments during the next four years, according to iSuppli Corp.

Shipments of embedded pico projectors will rise to more than 3 million units in 2013, up from less than 50,000 units this year. The figure presents iSuppli’s forecast of global embedded Pico projector shipments.Source: iSuppli, Aug. 2009

iSuppli defines pico projectors as front projectors weighing less than 2 pounds—or about 0.9 kilograms—and sized at less than 60 cubic inches—or about 983 cubic centimeters—without a battery pack. Despite their small sizes, pico projectors produce large displays, with some products capable of showing bright, 50-inch diagonal images on a wall or other surface.

This combination of small physical size and large image makes embedded pico projectors a perfect fit for space-constrained mobile devices.

“Mobile electronic devices offer consumers and corporate users the portability they desire, causing an increasing number of users to employ products like smart phones and netbook PCs as their primary platforms for computing and Internet access,” said Sanju Khatri, principal analyst, signage/projection, for iSuppli.

“However, a major obstacle blocking the use of mobile devices in this fashion has been their tiny displays relative to desktop PCs. Embedded pico projectors promise to enlarge these displays, making mobile devices more capable as primary computing and Internet-access platforms.”

Pico projectors are likely to find initial acceptance in the corporate market, allowing businesspeople to make presentations directly from their mobile PCs, smart phones or PDAs. However, they also have a strong allure to consumers, allowing large-sized display of video, Internet sites and applications.

Smartphones represent a promising market for embedded pico projectors.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. fired the starting gun for this area with the unveiling of its Show smartphone at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. The Show, which presently is only being sold in South Korea, employs Texas Instruments Inc.’s Digital Light Processing (DLP) projection technology. Other smartphones equipped with pico-projectors are likely to be introduced soon.

Besides DLP and other Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) display technologies, Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) technology shows equally strong promise in the embedded pico projector market.

In an example of the use of LCOS, Nikon announced it will ship in September its Coolpix S1000pj digital camera, which employs pico projection technology for the display of pictures and video.

While iSuppli predicts fast growth for embedded pico projectors, they still will account for a tiny fraction of overall mobile device shipments through 2013.

“The growth potential for embedded pico projectors will be limited during the next few years due to challenges in areas including power consumption, size and manufacturing,” Khatri said. “As these issues are resolved, pico projectors will appear in many more mobile electronics devices.”

Samsung Mobile and MetroPCS intro Samsung Tint!

DALLAS,USA: In its ongoing effort to provide consumers with the largest selection of wireless handsets for low-cost unlimited service, MetroPCS Communications Inc., the nation's leading provider of unlimited, flat-rate wireless communications service and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), a leading mobile phone distributor in the US, launched the Samsung Tint.

The sleek, compact flip design of the Samsung Tint makes it both durable and fashionable. The Samsung Tint includes grey and pink faceplates as a standard accessory to help match the user’s style. Additional faceplates are also available in various colors. This handset also features customizable wallpaper, banner themes and fonts to personalize the visual experience on the Samsung Tint.

The Samsung Tint is equipped with a powerful feature set, including an integrated camera, SMS, MMS, email and IM messaging capabilities1, advanced voice recognition, Bluetooth wireless technology and speakerphone for easy, hands-free operation.

For immediate access to family and friends, the Samsung Tint offers ChatLINK a push-to-talk social networking tool that works like a walkie-talkie. Users can simply push a button and talk without dialing to individuals or groups with compatible phones.

With the Samsung Tint, MetroPCS subscribers will be able to navigate the mobile Web, download ringtones and graphics and interact with social networks without having to use a laptop or PC.

The Samsung Tint is available with all MetroPCS service plans and is available for purchase in all metropolitan areas where MetroPCS service is available, which include Greater Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco Sacramento, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.

MetroPCS’ plans for its wide variety of other phones range from $30 to $50 per month and allow subscribers to talk all they want, 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week. Unlike most carriers, MetroPCS does not require a signed contract, which means that consumers can activate service without going through a credit check or paying a deposit.

The Samsung Tint is available at all MetroPCS authorized dealers and company-owned retail locations. Visit MetroPCS’ website at www.metropcs.com for specific locations or to purchase the Samsung Tint and sign up for service plans.