Corning, Apple’s glass supplier, announced yesterday that it will probably take at least three years before companies start making flexible displays using its new Willow flexible glass material.
Speaking with Bloomberg, Corning president James Clappin says that products with flexible displays are likely still three years out, adding that it's now busy making "a lot of effort" to teach what it describes as "very big name" companies how to fully use the product. The glass has been rolled out as companies, such as Google, are considering launching wearable computers.
Clappin told reporters that companies have yet to come up with products that take advantage of Willow glass. The glass can be rolled up like a newspaper, allowing companies to make curved or flexible displays. Clappin believes people are not accustomed to glass you roll up.
Willow glass may be used in some simple products this year, said Clappin. Examples of these products could be thin films behind some touch panels or a flexible barrier for solar panels.
Corning said they have sent out samples of the flexible glass to makers of phones, tablets and TVs in June. Corning CFO, James Flaws, at the time said that the company hoped it would be available in consumer products this year.
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