Digital Trends reports: ““Plasma screen” may be synonymous with the hulking 42-inch sets you see lighting up aisles down at your local appliance retailer, but Panasonic has recently succeeded in a secret effort to make the same technology much, much smaller. At a press conference on Tuesday, Panasonic revealed the fruits of its R&D efforts, and plans to put compact plasma screens in everything from cell phones to gas pumps.”

“Panasonic sees the miniature plasma screens replacing LCDs in many applications, including all types of phones, intercom monitors, fax machines, gas pumps, ATMs, camera viewfinders, MP3 players, vending machines, automotive displays, digital photo frames, and appliance touch screens. HP has even licensed the technology for two years to include mini-plasma screens in its printers.”

“Balsama said that Panasonic’s consumer and business telephone products will be the first to get the new screens, and will debut this fall.”