| 1998 |
- ・ Joint development of world’s first CG (continuous grain) Silicon technology with Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
- ・ Develops world’s first stacked CSP (chip size package) units (mass production begins in April)
- ・ Markets PC-PJ1, a B5-size, ultra-thin notebook PC
- ・ Establishes Sharp Document Systems Corporation (SDS) to handle sales of document products such as copiers, and Sharp Amenity Systems Corporation (SAS) to handle sales of solar power systems and LED displays
- ・ Corporate senior executive director Katsuhiko Machida appointed president (June 26). Corporate advisor Saeki appointed as corporate senior advisor and President Tsuji appointed as corporate advisor
- ・ Establishes Sharp Electronics Marketing Corporation (SEMC), a consumer electronics/information products sales company
- ・ Announces collaboration with NuvoMedia, Inc. in electronic publishing business
- ・ Achieves production of 5 million MD audio products
- ・ Agreement reached with Cadence Design Systems, Inc. on joint development of system LSIs
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- ・ Nagano Winter Olympics
- ・ US Major Leaguer Mark McGwire sets new homerun record for first time in 37 years (62 HR sets record, total of 70 HR for season)
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| 1999 |
- ・ Markets LC-20V1/20V2, the world’s first 20-inch LCD TVs
- ・ Launches Sharp Space Town information service for Sharp digital information products
- ・ Markets VN-EZ1 Internet ViewCam, the world's first video camera to use MPEG-4 video compression standard
- ・ Agrees to provide semiconductor manufacturing technology to 1st Silicon, an LSI manufacturing company in Malaysia
- ・ Develops Advanced TFT LCD (Multi-Scene Display), which can be switched between reflective mode in bright settings and transmissive mode using a backlight in dark settings
- ・ Announces comprehensive business agreement with Quanta Computer Inc., Taiwan’s largest notebook PC manufacturer, that includes providing TFT LCD technology (production begins in 2001)
- ・ Markets RE-M210, the world’s first microwave oven capable of "Internet cooking"
- ・ Develops 1-bit amplifier technology, which uses high-order delta-sigma modulation to reproduce ultra high-fidelity sound. Markets SM-SX100 1-bit amp
- ・ Announces joint development of semiconductor process technology with Conexant Systems, Inc.
- ・ Introduces innovative production line for large-format TFT LCDs at Mie No. 2 Plant
- ・ Develops and starts mass production of world's first 3-chip stacked CSP units
- ・ Establishes Sharp Electronics Inc. of Korea (SEI) as sales base in Korea (starts operations same year)
- ・ Establishes Sharp Software Development India Pvt. Ltd. (SSDI) as software development company for digital copier/printers in India
- ・ SREC (Malaysia) achieves production of 25 million color TVs
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- ・ Sharp-sponsored Manchester United becomes world's No. 1 soccer team (November 30) (sponsorship contract ends in May 2000)
- ・ Nuclear accident in Tokai village, Japan (September 30)
- ・ Year 2000 computer problem
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