Wacom 2006 Annual Report Download - page 3

W e launched new models of the Graphire/FAVO series, our consumer graphics
tablet, in all markets worldwide in September 2005, two years after the release of
the previous models. The new models offered a fresh design and an improved pen
that features a rubber grip and an ergonomic side-switch. In addition, new shortcut
keys and a scroll/zoom wheel allow users to fully concentrate on getting the job
done. Pen tablet sales surged in the United States and Europe, as digital photo
editing has become more popular in these markets. In Japan, we observed that
more senior citizens are becoming interested in retouching digital photos and that
young women in their teens and twenties are creating personal illustrations and
comics. As a result of these favorable trends, sales of consumer pen tablets for
the term under review rose substantially by 40% compared with the previous
fiscal year.
The Company was listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange on
D ecember 27, 2005. W e intend to take advantage of this event by striving to
strengthen public trust and gain stronger recognition in society by employing
people with high-level abilities, expanding our institutional investor base on a global
scale through IR activities, and promoting business alliances.
O ur pen-input mechanism has been incorporated into a portable device for reading newspapers
developed by the N etherlands-based iRex Technologies BV. This is the world’s first portable electronic
paper reading/writing device. W hile conventional electronic paper functions have previously been limited
to viewing, this newly developed handheld device allow users to freely write and correct messages as well.
This represents a small but significant step toward establishing our technology and applications as the de
facto global standard in the D igital Paper era.
W acom Co., Ltd. Annual Report 2006 2
D ISCLAIMER
Forward-looking statements regarding future events and performance contained in this annual repor t are based on currently available information and involve risks and
uncertainties, including macroeconomic conditions, trends of the industry in which the company is engaged, and progress in technologies. Please note that actual results
could materially differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this annual repor t due to these risks and uncer tainties.
Use of consumer pen tablets for photo editing and
creating illustrations and comics significantly boosts sales
Responding to the rapidly growing Asian business by
reinforcing our overseas sales and service network
W acom listed on the First Section
of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
W acom’s technology applied as input mechanism for electronic paper
Business Overview
Recently our business in the Asian market has been rapidly expanding, leading to our
establishment of W acom D igital Solutions Co., Ltd., a Korean subsidiary, during the
previous fiscal year. D uring the term under review, we continued effor ts to reinforce
sales and marketing activities in the Asian and O ceania market by establishing
W acom Australia Pty. Ltd., our Australian subsidiary. In addition, we are now
reorganizing our Singaporean representative office into a Singaporean subsidiary as a
key regional base of operations. This subsidiary will cover the South and Southeast
Asian markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and India, in which we have
already launched full-fledged marketing and service activities. The driving forces for
this rapid growth by our Asian business include governmental IT investment policies and advances in various IT and telecommunication
technologies which have led to higher performance, lower priced PCs, improved drawing software, and wider use of broadband. All
these factors made it possible for users to store images drawn on a tablet using an electronic pen as electronic data, which makes it
easy to correct, copy, and send images. Animations and comics created in Japan, the United States, and Europe are sent to Asia for
processing via broadband Internet access. In addition, the number of people in Asia engaging in design and image-processing jobs using
electronic pens is increasing. In response to these trends, we are actively building and reinforcing our sales and service network for the
very promising Asian market.