Matsushita to become Panasonic, everywhere -- thank you Panny
By Thomas Ricker 
posted January 10th 2008 10:36AM
posted January 10th 2008 10:36AM
In an overdue move sure to delight tech journos and consumers alike, Matsushita is changing its name to Panasonic. Sure, it was a tough decision to discard the name of its founder after a 90 year reign. But let's face it, the dual-naming scheme hurt both brands and created confusion in the global marketplace. The change goes official on October 1st, pending approval by shareholders.
When i hear Matsushita, i think about Floppy drives... Thats the only thing i have ever owned with that brand...
I guess i'm in the dark...
Open up your computer...odds are you probably have a matsushita fan in there. Or, take a look @ some of the laptop/cell batteries you have around.
Yeah, it looks like both the company name, Matsushita, and their domestic brand, National, will all get changed to Panasonic. I don't think there will be much of a noticeable effect outside of Japan, but the disappearance of National will probably create some market confusion.
Right... and that's a big deal. We don't know Matsushita or National that well here, but in Japan, it's Panasonic that's the lesser of the three brand names. They are going to have some work to do - that is still their biggest market. (They are the #1 combined electronics and appliance maker in Japan... but under the National and Matsushita names, mostly.)
But that's why National's not being phased out until 2010. There are going to be a whole lot of "National is now Panasonic!" ads before then, I'd guess, and probably a whole lot of dual-branded products with both names prominent for a while.
I think it's a good idea to reduce confusion. But, really, even my Panasonic vacuum cleaner says Matsushita Corporation on the spec tag. Anyone who cared already understood.
Matsu****a was probably just tired of having their name mangled regularly by profanity filters.
How about Technics? That is also a brand name of Matsushita. Will it change to Panasonic too?
No more Matsu****a filter for me. woohooo
Now if only companies like LG and Samsung would follow suit.
Hmm... Would you please explain?
I thought my comment was self explanatory? Both LG and Samsung use a different name in their native Korea.
Are you sure about that? I've been to South Korea and see lots of LG/Samsung branding. Phones, TVs, Chelsea football kits...
It may be mostly in their mobile phones they use anther name. LG phones go under the brand name of Cyon. And I'm sure Samsung phones use a different brand name as well but buggered if I can either remember or find it right now.
Ah found it in Wikipedia
"Anycall is a South Korean Mobile phone brand. Samsung established the brand in 1993. Like other mobile phone brands in South Korea, they provide technology such as cameras, internet access, and TV over IP.
Anycall are Samsung rebranded handsets sold in throughout Asia. They tend to be filled with Samsung's latest features."
Ah found it in Wikipedia
"Anycall is a South Korean Mobile phone brand. Samsung established the brand in 1993. Like other mobile phone brands in South Korea, they provide technology such as cameras, internet access, and TV over IP.
Anycall are Samsung rebranded handsets sold in throughout Asia. They tend to be filled with Samsung's latest features."
And what's with Blogsmith's comment system today? I mean it always sucks but today it seems to suck even more. I have seen a lot of double posts like the one above where one is attached to the persons profile but the first one isn't.
Go National!
Quasar, Technics, Matsushita, and National are all part of Panasonic.
Ah...I've owned many a nice piece of Technics audio equipment in the past...but they're as niche as they come anymore...
What about JVC? Will JVC be renamed J-Panasonic.
Mashushita no longer owns any part of JVC, so I can't imagine why their name might change...
They tried a bunch of combination names, and I think Shitpan was the name they almost went with before they decided to give up and just call themselves Panasonic.
Haha! Thanks for the laugh! =)
Haha! Thanks for the laugh! =)
It's actually pronounced a bit more like mat"shoe"sta. but whatever...