Sony talk us through their roadmap for OLED

We had a chance to meet with Sony last week to talk about some of their current developments and plans for the future of their products.  It was the ideal opportunity to discuss the way ahead for OLED televisions, whose arrival we've often covered here.

So--when will we get one?

• The Sony XEL-1, which we tested back in April, will be available in Europe from January 2009 for 3000 euros (4100 USD / 2400 GBP).

• The two prototype versions of a 27 inch OLED have already been manufactured won't be followed up.

• It won't be until 2012 that we see large OLED screens commercially available.  "Four or five years" was Sony's best estimate, but given that we're nearly in 2009 already that could well mean 2014 at the outside.  Even then, the new models will be aimed at the "premium" market with a price tag to match.  Only several years after that will OLED begin to become affordable for regular consumers. 

Given the positive noises we had been hearing about OLED, it's a shame that Sony seem to be kicking it into the long grass for the time being, but we certainly don't expect to be seeing them in the shops any time soon ...