Panasonic 2003 Annual Report Download - page 24

22 Matsushita Electric Industrial 2003
of possessing expertise in both imaging
and communications fields, to develop
IPv6-compatible products, thus
expanding the possibilities in fixed-line
communications.
In devices, the Company currently
offers one of the world’s slimmest
DVD combination drives, and will fol-
low up with the introduction of an
even slimmer model in fiscal 2004. In
the future, Matsushita will provide
new added value to customers in
fixed-line communications equipment
by integrating cutting-edge technolo-
gies over a broad range, covering
optical devices, materials processing
and precision manufacturing, while
developing unique core and support-
ing technologies.
Mobile Communications
In mobile communications equipment,
such as cellular phones, Matsushita will
strive to regain the top position in the
domestic market, while strengthening
overseas R&D, manufacturing and
sales, all aimed at increasing the Com-
pany’s global market share.
In the domestic market, Matsushita
will introduce competitive cellular
phones that improve on current popular
models featuring a slim design and dual
cameras. The Company will also expand
on its advantageous position as an
industry leader in the 3G W-CDMA
standard, a business area that is expect-
ed to grow.
Overseas, camera-equipped cellular
phones featuring full-color LCD dis-
plays were well received in Europe
and China, as were the Company’s
fashionable line of ultra-compact mod-
els. For the future, Matsushita will
augment product lineups to achieve
increased global sales.
The mobile communications
industry is undergoing dramatic
changes. 3G mobile communications
offers high-speed data transfer and
handsets capable of storing still and
moving images, with ever-advanced
handset functions predicted for the
future. Matsushita will solidify its com-
petitive position as a global leader in
this market through such initiatives as
an alliance with NEC for the develop-
ment of common platforms and the
creation of an efficient software devel-
opment structure, in order to quickly
respond to the above-mentioned tech-
nological advances.
Automotive Electronics
The Company’s automotive electron-
ics business covers a wide range, from
automotive multimedia equipment,
such as car audio equipment and navi-
gation systems, to equipment, systems
and services that are closely linked to
environmental-, energy- and safety-
related fields.
In fiscal 2003, products that will
lead future growth recorded positive
results, with car navigation systems
becoming more common, and DVD-
compatible rear-seat entertainment
systems gaining favorable response,
particularly in North America.
In the future, Matsushita will
strengthen sales of car navigation sys-
tems and car audio equipment in
overseas markets, as these markets are
expected to lead the Company in
growth. To support this, Matsushita
established a new R&D facility in
China in February 2003, adding to
existing R&D locations in Japan, the
United States and Europe, and com-
pleting the Company’s global
automotive electronics R&D structure.
Furthermore, in advanced technol-
ogy R&D, Matsushita has been
actively expanding joint efforts with
automotive makers. One result of such
efforts was the launch in fiscal 2003 of
a multimedia terminal that is compati-
ble with various information networks.
Matsushita will continue to be an
industry leader in the development of
technology to make the ubiquitous
networking society a reality in the
automotive multimedia field as well.
Cordless digital phone system
capable of supporting up to eight
remote handsets
(from left)
3G “camcorder-style” cellular phone with a
rotating LCD screen
Compact, lightweight cellular phone for
Europe and China
Slim, folding cellular phone with dual cameras
HDD car navigation system that fits
the main unit, LCD and TV tuner
neatly into the dashboard