Plastic Logic Flexible Electronic-Reading Device

The electronic reader industry has promised a lot for a long time and despite bullish forecasts, has yet to make mainstream status. That may be about to change with Plastic Logic previewing a gamechanging new device at the DEMOfall 08 technology conference. With a large 8.5 x 11-inch form factor, the Plastic Logic reader is thinner than a pad of paper, lighter than many business periodicals, and offers a high-quality reading experience aimed at professional users and will be available in Q2, 2009. “Research confirms professionals read much more business content than recreational content. They require access to all formats of digital content at their fingertips, and want a large readable screen,” said Plastic Logic CEO Richard Archuleta. Most significantly, the Plastic Logic display is flexible.

The Plastic Logic reader supports a full range of business document formats, such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, and Adobe PDFs, as well as newspapers, periodicals and books. It has an easy gesture-based user interface and powerful software tools that will help business users to organize and manage their information. Users can connect to their information either wired or wirelessly and store thousands of documents on the device. The reader incorporates E Ink technology for great readability and features low power consumption and long battery life. The Plastic Logic reader is scheduled to ship in the first half of 2009.

"The display is the key to the digital reading experience, and this is the key differentiator that sets Plastic Logic's product apart," said DEMO Executive Producer Chris Shipley. Core to the Plastic Logic product is its display. Current electronic reading devices feature small displays that are based on fragile glass screens that negatively impact their bulk, durability and weight. Plastic Logic has achieved a product that is the ideally sized for business needs and robust enough to take the push and shove of daily usage, based on its revolutionary plastic electronics display technology.

Plastic Logic’s display technology, first developed at Cambridge University, uses highresolution transistor arrays on flexible plastic substrates, manufactured at a low temperature. The promise of plastic electronics is to disintermediate the traditional silicon based semiconductor industry with components and products that are lighter, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly. Plastic electronics technology has broad applicability across many markets. IDTechEx, an industry research group, estimates the plastic electronics industry will be a $30 billion market by 2015.

“Plastic Logic is really innovating on two fronts that represent major market opportunities. We have created fundamentally advanced plastic electronics technology, enabling us to develop reading devices that will transform the way we publish, distribute and consume content,” said Archuleta.

Plastic Logic’s go-to-market strategy will include direct e-commerce as well as partnerships with publishing, distribution, retail, and other information services companies.

The Company is also approaching another significant milestone in commercializing its product with the opening of its new manufacturing facility in Dresden, Germany on September 17, 2008. The factory is the world’s first commercial-scale plastic electronics manufacturing facility. It will begin to immediately ramp production on the Plastic Logic reader.

“Plastic Logic has the technology to take a leadership position that could make a major mark on the e-reading category. This is a Company to watch, ” said Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies.

Final pricing for the Plastic Logic reader will be announced when the product ships; the Company expects it to be competitively priced among e-reading products.