First 1080p 42-inch plasma HDTV announced

US-based Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company has announced the TH-42PZ700U, 1080p 42-inch Plasma HDTV - industry’s first 1080p 42-inch plasma TV.

The set will be available to buy in early July for around $2499.95.

The TH-42PZ700U is part of Panasonic’s 2007 line of 700 Series 1080p HDTVs, which includes 42, 50, 58, 65 and 103 inch models.

The 700 series is acclaimed for its deep black, high contrast ratio, excellent shadow detail, and clean images.

The TH-42PZ700U model has a native resolution of 1920×1080 and comes with two HDMI inputs and an SD card slot.

This allows user to view digital photos on the large Plasma screen. The model also includes EZ Sync which provides one-touch operation of all compatible components.