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The technology firm may bring significant price pressure on the big-screen television market.

How much would you pay for a big-screen television featuring support for high-definition (HD)? Would a price range of a few hundred dollars for a 42-inch flat screen appeal to you?

They won't be available today, or tomorrow. But after that, who knows? Motorola has begun licensing its Nano Emissive Display technology, which is based on carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotubes, 10,000 times thinner than a human hair, are made of rolled-up carbon hexagons. NEC discovered them in 1991. TV screens made using Motorola's invention could be less than an inch thick.

"We have developed a technology that could enable the next generation of large flat-panel displays to deliver an extraordinary visual experience at a fraction of current prices," said Jim O'Connor, vice president for technology incubation and commercialization at Motorola.

In as little as 24 months, a flat screen with a longer lifespan than current flat screens could be made by TV manufacturers for around $400. Motorola, a former TV manufacturer, will not reenter the field itself.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.