Samsung Takes LCD Lead

Sharp no longer is the world's top manufacturer of flat-panel LCD sets, according to market researchers iSuppli and DisplaySearch. Samsung Electronics of South Korea now enjoys the lead, although Sharp (the leader for the past several years) is largely credited by competitors with pushing the popularity of LCD technology to the front of the pack in the HD realm. LCD technology is proving the most popular, so far, in flat-panel sales among consumers globally.

Samsung's worldwide market share in 2006 was just over 14.5 percent, according to iSuppli. Royal Philips Electronics NV of the Netherlands came in runner-up at 13.4 percent--barely edging out former frontrunner Sharp, which was third at 13.3 percent, according to the Associated Press.