Toshiba Mobile Display Co is reported to be working on a new mobile LCD plant, specifically for retina display-type displays, according to Japanese newspaper Nikkei. The new plant will come at a cost of over $100 billion Yen ($1.19 billion USD) and allow Toshiba to more than double their current high resolution mobile LCD production. The build location is said to be located in the Ishikawa prefecture, with production slated for the 2nd half of 2009.
More interesting however, is news that american-based Apple Inc. will be investing quite heavily in the new LCD production plant. This can be attributed mainly to the fact that this new plant will allow Toshiba to pump out more high resolution retina displays for Apple’s iPhone, iPod Touch, and upcoming re-designed iPads — the latter of which is rumored to receiving a new retina display in the upcoming hardware refresh.
A pairing between Toshiba and Apple makes sense given the high profile Apple’s gadgets demand. With that said, the co-op should help reduce or outright eliminate any supply shortages as has been seen in recent years, most recently by Samsung-sourced displays and the this past summer’s HTC portfolio.
