Strategy Sharp and the road to disruption


acquired a 104-year old consum- er electronics manufacturer and a long-time leader in Japan. Foxconn is currently the world's largest elec-


When Foxconn Technology Group completed its $6.4 billion deal to buy Sharp Corporation, the iPhone acquired a 104-year old consum-


long-time leader in Japan. Foxconn is currently the world's largest elec- tronics contractor manufacturer, and the third-largest information technology company by revenue. For Sharp, the acquisition is ex- pected to result in an improvement in both its finances and distribution


is ex-


in both its fi nances and distribution channels. Foxconn on the other hand plans to utilise Sharp’s supe- rior technology in electronic manu- facturing and the goodwill attached


s supe-


rior technology in electronic manu- facturing and the goodwill attached to the brand.


committed to restoring profi tability and strengthening operations to once again make Sharp a leader in the global electronics arena, and a world-class company with a posi-


world-class company with a posi- tive outlook.” To those engaged in Sharp’s Visual Solutions business, the acquisition came of something of a relief, providing the resources necessary to fill gaps in the com- s product portfolio and the


necessary to fi ll gaps in the com- pany’s product portfolio and the marketing releases needed to take advantage of the goodwill extended


Positive disruption


With the Foxconn investment, Sharp’s management believes that


advantage of the goodwill extended to the brand by customers in the professional community.


At the time of the acquisition, the board announced that: “We are committed to restoring profitability


the manufacturer has an opportu- nity to make a real difference in some key AV product categories. ISE 2017 was Sharp’s opportuni- ty to showcase its early advances under the new regime. At the time, Sid Stanley, General Manager, Vi- sual Solutions said:


the manufacturer has an opportu- s opportuni- , Vi-


o be considered a signifi cant vendor, we know that we need to earn market share with a broad and comprehensive product range. This is why we are investing in some mainstream areas like signage, but also in innovative and new solu- tions like large form factor video walls and huddle displays. Thanks to the partnership with Foxconn, we are now better positioned to do this and to offer a different choice to the market, giving resellers and integrators another vendor partner- ship option.”


“To be considered a significant solu-


included the launch of a new dig- ital signage solution platform, the Sharp Open Architecture Platform, and an OPS (Open Pluggable Specification) format designed with Intel. Hardware highlights in-


Claiming to ‘Positively Disrupt’ at ISE. Product introductions were shown six product categories, and included the launch of a new dig-


Specifi cation) format designed with Intel. Hardware highlights in- clude a 70” video wall display, the company’s first interactive display for huddle spaces and a PCAP in-


s fi rst interactive display


for huddle spaces and a PCAP in- teractive display range with direct bonding


bonding technology. Sharp also technology. Sharp also showed an R&D prototype of a semi-transparent Field Sequential Display (FSD) prototype.


Be original


of the Sharp brand back to pre-em- inence, some have questioned the wisdom of building solutions that differ from the industry norm. In particular, was it necessary to intro- duce a new digital signage platform so early in the programme?


intro-


inspiring global brand”. Be Origi- nal, is Sharp's promise to its global customers. “Sharp is committed to introducing unique and innovative products


At the time of the Foxconn ac- quisition, Sharp Corporation un- veiled its new corporate motto, Be Original. This is said to embody the company's drive to become “an inspiring global brand”. Be Origi-


ac- un-


products and services, creating ways to meet customer needs and to enable them to enjoy the conve-


and services,


to enable them to enjoy the conve- nience that technology offers.”


download, store and play content di- rectly through a Sharp display. The Platform is a combination of new hardware and software from Sharp and partnerships with third-party signage software providers.


For Sharp, originality is embod- ied in the Sharp Open Architec- ture Platform for digital signage, which offers end users easy ways to download, store and play content di-


For Sharp, originality is embod- Architec-


signifi cant investment in refreshing our digital signage range are clear indications that we now aiming to increase our attractiveness to our


Sid Stanley, explained: “The launch of this new Sharp System- On-Chip (SoC) platform and our significant investment in refreshing


creating


In attempting to restore the position of the Sharp brand back to pre-em-


channel and the market. We now have full range coverage, and the right combination of great quality hardware, software, solutions, and partners to challenge the status quo.”


Sharp offers its own free signage software, Sharp Digital Signage Software as the default on its new displays and has also opened its SoC platform for Android to soft- ware vendors. Sharp Open Archi-


SoC platform for Android to soft- ware vendors. Sharp Open Archi- tecture Platform combines Sharp’s hardware, an SoC environment for Android and a choice of proprietary or third-party software players for retail or corporate signage. Sharp announces that it has already part-


announces that it has already part- nered with software companies CityMeo, Grassfish, Videro, and


CityMeo, Grassfi sh, Videro, and easyscreen.


New hardware


range of fl exible connectivity op- tions: an embedded SoC, capable of supporting 4K content; an integrat-


At ISE 2017, Sharp introduced three new display ranges with a range of flexible connectivity op-


supporting 4K content; an integrat- ed USB Media Player with Sharp Content Distributor software; and a Mini OPS (Open Pluggable Speci- fi cation) expansion slot developed


Sharp’s PN-V602 video wall displays are installed in Düsseldorf airport in a 25 display, 7 m x 4 m installation.


24/7 use now includes a Mini OPS extension slot for easier display inte- gration into a wider range of user ap-


extension slot for easier display inte- gration into a wider range of user ap- plications. The updated PN-Y range of ‘plug and play’ displays features an embedded USB media player with automatic default to USB play-


with automatic default to USB play- er in the case of signal interruption, which means the screen never goes blank. The PN-Q range are large size, affordable displays for meeting


more about these in the collabora- tive technology report on page 10 of this issue, including a new range of interactive displays for huddle spaces. The PN-40TC1, its first 40-inch BIG PAD interactive dis- play for small, informal meeting


collaborative technology with new versions of BIG PAD (you can read more about these in the collabora-


fi rst AD interactive dis-


Mini OPS (Open Pluggable Speci- fication) expansion slot developed with Intel. Three types of Mini OPS modules will be introduced at ISE (PC, Wireless, and HDBaseT) to give users more display and interactivity options.


Sharp’s new generation PN-R range of high-brightness displays for


size, affordable displays for meeting rooms or retail signage applications. It offers outstanding image quality in large-format sizes from 60” to the recently introduced 90” model. The PN-Y and PN-R displays can be installed face up or face down, a feature which is unique to Sharp for some sizes, and also for both portrait and landscape applications. They feature all standard signal in-


some sizes, and also


They feature all standard signal in- puts, and will be available in various brightness categories and sizes, ranging from 32” to 70”.


Outside of digital signage, Sharp is capitalising on its pioneering work in


play for small, informal meeting spaces. The display offers many benefits of Sharp’s larger BIG PAD displays at a smaller size, making it easier for groups of two to six peo- ple to share ideas and work effec-


benefi ts of Sharp’


easier for groups of two to six peo- ple to share ideas and work effec- tively together.


feature a further 5 or 6 signifi cant product launches, which will take Sharp closer to its goal of a com- prehensive range of solutions for its target markets. Now with the resources to match its ambitions the Prospects for Sharp look re-


of a com-


the Prospects for Sharp look re- freshingly positive.


Plans for ISE 2018 are likely to feature a further 5 or 6 significant


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