Samsung, Google seek partnership in OLED

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jay-yong said Friday that Google CEO Larry Page showed much interest in Samsung's OLED business, hinting that the two companies may seek a partnership in that area.

Google's CEO, who visited Seoul to meet President Park Geun-hye, went to Samsung's OLED factory in the provincial city of Tangjeong and had lunch with Lee and other Samsung executives prior to his meeting with Park.

''During the meeting with the Google CEO, I proposed the expansion of our business partnership to him. Larry Page showed interest in our OLED business,'' Lee told reporters after meeting with the delegation from Google at Samsung's main office in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Friday.

''We don't rule out the possibility to enter a new business partnership with Google in OLEDs. But more time will be needed for further details,'' said an official at Samsung.

OLED is short for organic light-emitting diode. Samsung is the industry's sole player to achieve economies of a scale in the business as OLED panels are used in its Galaxy line of devices.

Major TV manufacturers are also shifting toward using OLED panels as OLED TVs are regarded as the next cash cows to eventually replace LCDs and plasma TVs.

Samsung sources said Google wants to expand its partnership with Samsung in OLED TVs. Google is partnering with LG to manage Google TVs in the United States and China.

The visit comes after Samsung has reduced its reliance on Apple for sales of panels and memory chips, by shipping more parts to Google. The meeting also came a day after Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt dismissed negative rumors on Google's relationship with Samsung.

Schmidt said Google's relationship with Samsung was ''very healthy.''