James Delahunty
8 May 2012 16:45
World's second largest TV maker teams with Google to counter Apple.
It will launch Internet-enabled TVs in the United States using the Google TV platform in the week of May 21, according to the South Korean firm. The move is seen as a push from both LG and Google to dig into the emerging market as rival Apple Inc. is expected to offer up its own solution within the next year.
"Production of Google TVs will start from May 17 from our factory in Mexico and U.S. consumers will be able to buy the product from the week of May 21," Ro Seogho, executive vice president of LG's TV business unit, said.
After reviewing sales performance in the United States, LG will decide whether or not to move the business into the European and Asian markets.
IHS iSuppli estimates that the Internet-enabled TV market will grow 60 percent this year, to about 95 million units. The overall television market is expected to grow by about 2 percent this year.