The Next Hot Product: 3D TV

Following the footsteps of Samsung and Pansonic, Sony Corp will launch 3D televisions in Japan in June 2010. Sparked by renewed interest through  3D movies  movies such as Avatar, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and the forthcoming Toy Story 3, this field is expected to be hot as competitors launched their products as the year pans out.

Electronics makers are now rushing to get flat panel TVs with three-dimensional visual effects to the market.

In February 2010, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the world’s No. 1 TV brand, launched 3D TV sales in South Korea and said it would launch globally in March with the aim of selling at least two million 3D TVs this year.

Panasonic Corp will launch its 3D TVs in the United States tomorrow (10 March 2010), and cooperate with top US electronics retailer Best Buy Co in promoting them.

For Sony,they will market the  46-inch screen for 350,000 yen (RM13,175) and a 40-inch model to sell for 290,000 yen. Sony added it planned to launch its 3D TVs overseas around the time of the Japan launch.

It will be an expensive affair as there are not too many movies in 3D currently and so sales of 3D TVs at best will be muted at such high introductory prices.

I do not foresee many buyers in Malaysia. It at all there are buyers, these will basically be status symbol seekers.