US sales company SEC builds new Los Angeles office

Announces construction of Fukuyama No. 4 Plant to produce flash memory

Establishes Nanjing Sharp Electronics Co., Ltd. (NSEC), a joint manufacturing and sales company in China

Announces construction of new plant at SSEC in Shanghai

Develops Sharp Addressing LCD drive technology, which allows high-quality image display on STN LCDs

Develops Super-V LCD, which gives super-wide viewing angles, high brightness, high contrast and lower power consumption

Establishes Website on the Internet
(http://www.sharp.co.jp/ : Japanese)
(http://www.sharp-world.com/ : English)

Markets MI-10/10DC Color Zaurus PDA equipped with 65,000-color TFT LCD

Sharp and Sony Corporation agree on joint development of large-screen flat display panels using PALC technology

Develops world's largest 40-inch (1 m diagonal) TFT LCD

Achieves worldwide production of 50 million microwave ovens

SMM (Malaysia) achieves production of 10 million VCRs

Markets MD-PS1, the world's first MD Data camera

Announces construction of TFT LCD No. 2 Plant in Taki, Mie Prefecture (plant starts operations in October 1998)

Establishes Shanghai Sharp Mold and Manufacturing Systems Co., Ltd. (SSMC), a joint manufacturing company in China

Develops HC (high contrast) Addressing LCD, an STN LCD capable of high contrast, high-speed response and video display

Announces construction of world's largest solar cell plant in Shinjo (Katsuragi), Nara Prefecture (plant starts operations in April 1998)

Markets MI-504/506/506DC, the world's smallest color PDA

SUKM achieves production of 5 million VCRs

Announces mass production of HR-TFT (Super Mobile) LCDs, reflective LCDs that are thinner, lighter and use less power compared to conventional transmissive LCDS

Establishes Environmental Protection Group

Develops 42-inch PALC display, a joint effort with Sony and Philips Electronics N.V.

Announces establishment of Sharp Electronica Mexico S.A. de C.V. (SEMEX) as manufacturing base for color TVs and home appliances in Mexico (production begins in November 1998)

Announces establishment of Sharp Middle East Free Zone Establishment (SMEF) as sales base in the UAE