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| With the increasing demand for higher - resolution displays triggered by the shift to color screens for PDAs and mobile phones, NEC has introduced new, reflective color LCD technology in its TFT displays. |
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Japan’s first laptop computer, the PC - 98 LT, developed in 1986 by NEC.
From mainframes and minicomputers to compact PCs for individual users, NEC remains committed to staying at the forefront of changes in the marketplace. |
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In 1927, Japan experienced a major financial panic. Fiscal austerity led to a sharp cut in the budget for expanding the telephone network, and further, the government’s promotion of domestically manufactured products had a profound impact on NEC which was a foreign - owned entity. Faced with an unprecedented economic slump and anti - foreign sentiment, and after much deep deliberation, Iwadare decided to hand over management of the company to Sumitomo Goshi - Kaisha, its tie - up partner.
NEC auditor and Sumitomo Goshi - Kaisha Tokyo branch manager Tomizo Yajima went to the U.S. to meet Sosthenes Behn, president of the parent company, to explain the situation at NEC and Sumitomo’s management policies. When Behn heard how, following the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, Sumitomo Electric had continued to supply cable at a low price even though it could have charged much more, he felt an affinity with the Sumitomo spirit and agreed that NEC should be rebuilt according to Sumitomo’s principles.
Under the management of Sumitomo Goshi - Kaisha, NEC’s performance quickly recovered. The company returned to profit at the operating level in 1933 and enjoyed a five - fold increase in sales over the five years from 1932. Sumitomo became the largest shareholder in 1941, and in 1943 it made NEC a major affiliate, applying the Sumitomo principle of focusing on credibility and sound management.
Based on this firm management foundation, NEC has expanded the range of its businesses beyond telephones and switching equipment to become a manufacturer of wired and wireless communications equipment, a comprehensive telecommunications and electronics maker, an integrator of computers and communication (C&C), and an Internet solutions provider.
At the beginning of the modern era, two forms of telecommunications were developed: the telegraph and the telephone; while the former offered only one - way communications, the latter enabled two - way conversation. For NEC, its origin in telephony means that it will continue to directly meet the expectations and maintain the trust of its customers.
Preparation of this article was overseen and photos provided by the Sumitomo Shi - ryo - kan and NEC. |
