Neonode, Inc. (OTC-BB: NEON), a leading provider of optical touch screen solutions for handheld and small to mid-sized devices produced by companies, similar to Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI) and Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), is integrating its revolutionary zForce® technology into mobile phones, eReaders, mobile internet and tablet devices as part of the ongoing shift within the industry to an even higher standard of touchscreen devices.
Neonode Inc. (OTC-BB: NEON) is a provider of optical touchscreen solutions for handheld consumer electronic devices and industrial electric devices. With reported data of sales confirming the massive growth of smart phones and industry experts chiming in on where the future of touchscreen devices is heading regarding general consumer sentiment and product development, Neonode appears well-positioned with its zForce® technology to meet the rising demand and high expectations within the industry.
Touchscreen Markets Continue to Explode
Smart phones are routinely perceived by the general population as a necessity, not a luxury item that was once only available to the wealthy. Our world has become nearly all digital and mobile devices are becoming a pillar in the communications structure across the board from business to the family unit. Touchscreens, which were once reserved for only the highest-end of phones are now being incorporated into mid-range price devices as well to meet the needs of the widest array of consumers.
Last year, the worldwide market for touchscreen phones was estimated to surpassed 360 million units; representing a nearly 100 percent increase over sales in 2009. It is also predicted that by the year 2013, touchscreens mobile devices will account for more than 80 percent of all mobile device sales in North America and Europe. Smart phones alone generated nearly $18 billion in shipment revenue with more than 55 million units sold during 2010. It is projected that in 2011, smart phone revenues will top $21 billion with 72 million new units hitting the streets.
Touchscreens Becoming Key Component in Driving Sales
Image is one thing that often sells a product; there is no disputing that fact. There is a certain breed of consumers that simply have to have the latest technologies whether what they have now is antiquated or not. While this may be true for some, it is not enough to carry a product to success by itself. Meshing image, form and function, though, is what creates a blockbuster device and the goal of every manufacturer in the industry.
Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT) is the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company. They hold annual summits to discuss the past, present and future of technology and are comprised of some of the brightest minds in the industry. In a statement last year on touch screen technology, CK Lu, a research analyst at Gartner explained, “Consumers won’t buy a mobile device purely for the touch UI [User Interface]. Touch technology is just an enabler, and ultimately, it is a compelling user experience — which includes good UI design, applications and services — that will make or break a product.” In essence, with the shift in the mobile device paradigm, including a touchscreen is not going to necessarily convert to sales, but not including a touch screen could be detrimental to the overall campaign.
Neonode’s zForce® Screen Technology Primed to Meet Demand
Both consumers and experts have spoken as to the direction of screen technology and the vote appears to be resoundingly in favor of touchscreens as becoming the standard in devices. Neonode’s patented touch screen technology, zForce®, meets the demand of all components involved as pricing and functionality are well supported across the spectrum of their product line. The zForce® technology supports high resolution pen writing in combination with finger navigation including gestures, multi-touch, sweeps and operates with low power consumption and dimension profile.
While there are some manufacturers that could argue that their products offer the same function, zForce® is the only viable touch screen solution that will operate on the new revolutionary reflective display panels that will offer paper-like reading experience in almost any ambient lighting condition while greatly reducing power consumption. Today’s devices primarily use resistive and capacitive touch screens which require an overlay on top of the display window. While these may co-exist for the time being, the next generation of technology, such as zForce®, may soon establish its dominance in the industry as it requires no overlay and provides a much better viewing experience free from reflection and parallax effects. Much like every other development in technology that becomes the norm, consumers will soon begin to expect nothing less.
