At Eco-Products 2010, a trade show on green technologies, which took place from Dec 9 to 11, 2010, in Tokyo, Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corp and Panasonic Electric Works Co Ltd individually showcased straight tube LED lamps complied with the "JEL801:210" (defined by Japan Electric Lamp Manufacturers Association )standard .

Toshiba has designed a new method of diffusing light at the circumference of a straight tube LED lamp so that the light from white LEDs evenly spreads and does not become spotty. By showing the LED lamp along with a 40-watt fluorescent lamp having an equivalent brightness, Toshiba stressed that their brightnesses are almost the same and that the light of the LED lamp is not "spotty."

According to Toshiba, despite their similar appearances, straight tube LED lamps and fluorescent lamps have different shapes of bases and pins. The price of the new LED lamp is about ¥30,000 (approx US$357) and it will be introduced in January 2011.

In the meantime, Panasonic will launch a straight tube LED lamp Dec 24, 2010, in Japan, showed the lamp being used as a ceiling lamp of its booth. It emphasized the low power consumption of the lamp by displaying its wattage. Plus, Panasonic has already received a number of orders for the lamp.