Pass Apple will launch smart TV and Samsung showdown

According to foreign media reports, Morgan Stanley analyst Katie Huberty said that news from Asian suppliers showed that Apple is building a smart TV prototype.

Huberty believes that smart TVs can integrate video content, games, hard disk recorders, applications, and FaceTime video calling functions, and they are expected to become new products created by Apple. Piper Jaffray's analyst Jean pointed out in August last year that Apple is expected to enter the high-definition television (HDTV) market supporting network functions in the next 2-4 years. He expects Apple to sell 1.4 million TVs that support broadband networks in 2012. According to sources, Apple's executives announced three US$3.9 billion worth of mysterious component purchase contracts in a conference call in January this year, which is likely to consolidate supply of LCD panels.

At present, Samsung is the main brand manufacturer in the international market of smart TVs (having Internet access). Its sales target for this year is more than 12 million units. Samsung is also developing a single operating system platform for mobile phones and televisions, with a view to attracting more software developers to develop applications for Samsung products.

The research company of ABI, a technology research organization, once issued a report that the proportion of ultra-thin TV shipments with built-in Internet features will jump from 19% in 2010 to 46% in 2013. ABI analysts pointed out at that time that the network advertising opportunities behind Internet TV would be the big cake that TV makers are striving for.