A troubling sign for us e-paper lovers? E Ink yesterday announced its net sales to have dropped by 46% in Q2 2013 from its prior quarter. Yet, according to the investor conference held yesterday, things are not as gloomy as they might appear:
Quote:
E Ink was upbeat about this quarter's prospects.
"Customers have put off their new product launches to the third quarter from the second quarter,” company chief financial officer Eddie Chen told investors.
"There is enormous growth momentum to arrive in the third quarter. You will feel the [strength of] an upswing," Chen said.
This quarter, revenue is expected to at least double last quarter's NT$2.93 billion, as customers were scheduled to ship new e-readers for the holiday shopping season, Chen said.
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Source:
Taipei Times.
It's also reported that overall shipments of e-readers will remain flat compared to last year, with between 10 to 15 million units.
Further key points from the investor conference:
- E-book and E-reader show significant growth in Western Europe and Asia Pacific markets. According to IHS, the combined e-reader market share in these markets has increased from 38% in 2011 to 54% in 2013.
- Amazon Kindle has entered China and India markets.
- Kobo eReader sales in 1Q13 was up 145% YoY. With the successful launch of AURA HD in US and Europe, Kobo will expand its direct distribution into China, India, Russia, etc.
- Korea Epub will launch Crema Shine e-reader in South Korea in August
- Market share of e-reader shipments: North America: 35%, Western Europe: 27%, Asia-Pacific: 27%, Latin America: 6%, MEA: 3%, Eastern Europe: 2%
- E Ink Triton II colored e-paper Display won the "Outstanding Photonics Award" at Display Taiwan 2013
- New: 13.3" E Ink Mobius Display on a Sony product