Glass manufacturer Corning (NYSE:
GLW
) has unveiled its latest glass technology ahead of next week's
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas,
according to Apple Insider
. Included is the new Gorilla Glass 3, which is a more
scratch-resistant, stronger version of that used in iPhones and
iPads.
If the California tech giant incorporates it into its products,
it will certainly be a welcome relief to butterfingered Apple
fanboys. For better or worse, phones and other gadgets are in the
hands of consumers more than ever before. The chances of damaging
drops increase accordingly, making a strong glass an important
asset to have.
With a manufacturer of Apple's magnitude likely to be on the
order list, the new Gorilla Glass 3 may seem like a sure hit.
Of course, Apple isn't the only company that uses Gorilla Glass.
According to Corning's website, over 33 companies use it on more
than 900 models. These include major manufacturers like Dell
(NASDAQ: Dell), HP (NYSE:
HPQ
), LG, Motorola, Nokia (NYSE:
NOK
), Samsung (OTC:
SSNLF
), as well as Sony (NYSE:
SNE
) and others. Overall, more than one billion devices use this
glass.
However, investors may wish to take a hard look at Corning
before boarding the ship for several reasons.
Despite the widespread use and claims of durability, the New
York State glassmaker's Gorilla Glass hasn't built a strong stock
price.
On August 1, 2010 -- the date the
first news story
on this product reached the public -- the company's share price
closed at well over $18.
By the end of the month, it was down to just over $15 and has
been on a roller coaster ever since. As of this writing, the share
price is a bit over $12.
Also, some companies are considering a move away from glass in
favor of plastic, notably Samsung.
According to the New York Daily News
, the Seoul-based electronics manufacturer plans to release
all-plastic phones and tablets sometime during the first half of
this year. The company has touted the products as "Unbreakable" due
to their flexible plastic displays, as noted by the New York Daily
News. If they are right, Corning's Gorilla Glass could face tougher
competition than ever before and be rendered obsolete.
(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice.
All rights reserved.
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