Japanese Electronics Makers Plan Joint Standard for Internet Television

A group of Japanese electronics manufacturers, including Sony, Matsushita, Sharp Corp., Toshiba Corp. and Hitachi, announced plans to develop a joint standard for Internet televisions. The televisions, which are rumored to hit sales floors next year, will make viewing rich media content like Internet video simpler for consumers. Instead of a keyboard, consumers will use a remote control in an effort to simplify the Web viewing process. The televisions will be based on Linux O.S. The group expects to sell 10 million to 20 million units by 2011. (Source: Houston Chronicle, AP )