| Panasonic's vision of the digital future is driven by the needs and aspirations of our business customers and millions of consumers around the world who use our products every day. We share their dream to live a fuller life by providing ways of working smarter and enjoying the rewards of technological advances.
As we move forward together with our customers into the uncharted future of the 21st century with the prospect of future technologies and systems yet to be thought of, Panasonic's standards are still firmly grounded in the philosophy of company founder Konosuke Matsushita. He began our journey in 1918 by inventing a two-socket light fixture. Profound in its import yet elegantly simple, Konosuke Matsushita's breakthrough led to what is now one of the world's largest electronics companies. As he built Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., he never lost sight of the importance of putting the needs of his customers and the public first.
Panasonic will continue its Customer First tradition of creating new products that resolve the challenges in business and personal life, helping us all enjoy more of what life has to offer. The name Panasonic is synonymous with innovation, quality, performance and ease of use. We look forward to a bright and shining technological future, and to playing a leading role in the digitally networked society, propelled by the creativity and dedication of our employees here and around the world.
Panasonic takes pride in being one of the world's premier electronics manufacturers. Not only do we make the DVD players, televisions and dozens of other consumer electronics products enjoyed by millions, but we are also a supplier of electronics components. From tiny semiconductors, to DVD-ROM drives for PCs, to flat screen plasma TV displays, Panasonic engineers are always pushing the technological envelope. In fact, many companies use our high-volume, high-speed manufacturing expertise and know-how to create even better products, just one more way Panasonic enhances lifestyles around the world.
Panasonic is not only a premier maker of electronics hardware, it is also one of the largest global manufacturers of DVD entertainment software. The growing state-of-the-art Panasonic disc replication plant in Torrance, CA, supplies many of the DVD video discs Americans bring into their homes every night.
The popular DVD format is an excellent example of Panasonic's engineering and marketing prowess. Panasonic developed many of the key technologies that make possible DVD, the format that is now transforming home entertainment and the computer industry. Our engineers took that technology from the laboratory and created high-quality, affordable components for the industry. At the same time, we used our expertise in storage media to make DVD discs a reality.
For our DVD efforts, we were awarded a technical Emmy Award by the television industry. While we are proud of that award, it hasn't stopped the technological advances. Panasonic was first to introduce recordable DVD for the PC and is moving forward with recordable DVD players for video enthusiasts. And this is only the beginning.
As you click through the Panasonic Web site, you'll quickly see the broad range of consumer, business, industrial and broadcast products offered. Business customers, seeing this wide range of expertise, have asked us to provide entire systemwide solutions for all their electronics needs. Our engineers are rising to the challenge. The demand for this one-stop shopping is becoming a major growth area for the company as technology becomes more sophisticated and omnipresent. No matter if it's a giant hotel, a stadium or a major metropolitan transit system, Panasonic is meeting customers' needs.
Panasonic is playing a major role in digital television broadcasting. High-definition and digital TV will have a major impact on the way we all watch television, and it's a dramatic change for the better, with vivid images that make you feel you're looking through a window instead of a TV screen. Panasonic is helping TV stations across the country as they make the transition to digital capability. We provide the broadcast cameras, video recorders, video format converters, editing consoles and other tools that make great programming possible. When ABC Sports decided to broadcast "Monday Night Football" and the Super Bowl in HDTV, Panasonic made it happen by providing an entire HD production mobile unit.
Panasonic also led the way in making the dream of digital TV a reality for consumers with the introduction of the first all-format digital TV set-top receiver/decoder and first consumer HDTV both of which were developed in the U.S. as well as other cutting edge displays, including flat panel plasma televisions that incorporate technology from our U.S. development center.
As we move into the 21st century, people look to true innovators, technological leaders for products to enrich their personal lives and make their work life easier. Panasonic, as one of the world's premier technology companies, is devoting the resources in its global research laboratories and production divisions to make that bright future a reality.
Panasonic is leading the way with products and systems that are as obvious as our High-Definition TV systems. High-Definition Digital TV delivers picture and sound so realistic you feel like you're front row center in your favorite movie theater. More subtly, we also make the cameras and broadcast equipment that record and edit HDTV shows that are transmitted to your home. Panasonic integrates and installs the security systems in major hotels and stadiums - and designs the cutting-edge, postage-stamp sized semiconductor memory that's revolutionizing the consumer electronics industry. Panasonic is the Emmy Award winner behind the DVD format that's transforming home entertainment. In fact, we not only helped create the format with breakthrough technologies but are also one of the top manufacturers of players and discs in the world.
And everything with the Panasonic name is backed by world-class customer service with team members who deeply believe in the philosophy of putting the customer first.
Our employees not only take care of their customers but they also contribute to their communities across the country. Panasonic takes pride in being a good neighbor. We invest in educational outreach that is so vital to vibrant communities everywhere. Panasonic is meeting the challenge of the new Digital Age in so many ways and on so many different levels. We welcome the dramatic and positive changes transforming the world around us.
Join us on the journey.
Panasonic is much more than a well-known brand name. It stands for the depth and diversity of our research capabilities, manufacturing expertise and product selection. It stands for the advanced technology of products, from easy-to-use consumer goods to sophisticated medical, broadcast, business and industrial systems.
More importantly, Panasonic stands for a commitment to quality, value and innovation. In North America, this commitment is backed up by employees working in research and development centers from California's Silicon Valley to Video Valley in New Jersey, state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, one of the country's largest customer call centers in Virginia and sales and service organizations that deal with the public and business-to-business relationships in nearly every state. In all of our dealings, the customer is always first. This was our bedrock philosophy through the 20th century and it will carry us through the 21st century. |
