Unfortunately right now OLED technology is not as efficient as its standard LED cousin. Available panels today are approximately 4" x 4" only generate approximately 75 lumens , the cost, is dramatically expensive, and the average life span of the current OLED source is only about 10,000 hours.
Why would a manufacturer be interested in using this light source today? The answer is twofold; first OEM's must examine the unique characteristics of the OLED panel to discover where it has advantages compared to traditional light sources and even to standard LED. Second OEM's must understand where we are in the OLED development cycle and how quickly we will have a high efficacy OLED panel at prices that will make it viable to a mainstream customer base.
Features:
OLED is a panel source, not a point source of light like LED. The advantage of this is especially beneficial in general illumination applications where an even light distribution and low glare are important. Using a multiple panel light source creates a "surface of light" that can widely and evenly distribute light within a space. The wide luminous surface has a low surface brightness that can light up a room (with enough panels) but can also be easily viewed directly without blinding the observer.
Low heat is another achievement of OLED technology. The low input wattage and wide surface area of the panel creates very little heat and allows installation with only a small concern about creating a proper heat sink as with LED. This panel can be safely mounted to many different types of materials.
The feature that some argue makes current OLED panels most desirable is the thinness. While the performance of most OLED panels can be duplicated and even exceeded by standard LED's and other light sources at the moment, none can duplicate the combination of low glare surface brightness, low heat and thinness.
Add the ability to be easily dimmed, and certain versions are available that can provide controlled color changing capabilities and you have the recipe for exciting designs.
Performance:
While OLED technology is advancing, certain standards are starting to appear. OLED lighting panel sizes are starting to emerge that are becoming common to several of the OLED panel suppliers. Standardization in module size helps create fixture platforms that can be updated at a later date with the latest and most efficient panels.
Fortunately OLED panel makers and innovators, like LG Chem, are focused on producing panels with higher output and a longer life. Expect the next generation to achieve 80 lm/W and run for up to 20,000 hours as early as 2013. LG Chem projects their panels will reach 135 lm/W and 40K hours by 2015. Philips also is projecting their panels will deliver up to 140 lm/W. The development roadmap for many OLED panel developers also includes exploiting characteristics that are different than traditional light sources, but unique to OLED's, such as flexibility and transparency of the light source panel. But maybe the most interesting characteristic that fixture makers and designers will watch is cost.
Cost:
According to the Department of Energy's current SSL multi-year program plan, the OLED milestone goal for the industry is to achieve at least a $25 per thousand lumen cost (OEM price) for OLED panels by 2015. This is a daunting goal considering that we are around $200 for just about one hundred lumens in 2012. However LG Chem, feels that they will be able to provide the performance goals they are predicting and drastically reducing the panel pricing by their investments in their production processes and high volume production lines. Depending on whom you ask, it looks like in 2013 we will see OLED panels double the efficacy from 2012 and cost about half the price.
To judge the credibility of this claim, you can look at the rate of cost reductions and performance improvements that we have seen in the last ten years of standard "inorganic" LED manufacturing. The current OLED development roadmap shows that OLED panels are on track to achieve the same cost reduction and performance improvement rate, but in one half the time! The good news is that, although we are still at an early stage, the OLED development rate is generally keeping this pace.
Applications:
The OLED panel technology has finally reached a point where it is not just a glowing surface but it can now start to deliver real output appropriate for some of its first lighting fixture applications. The lighting fixtures developed in 2012 will be able to use the next improved performance generation of OLED panels available in 2013. While today's OLED panels can start to be used in some fixture types right now, the next generation around the corner promises to bring us closer to a light source that can be seriously considered against other sources in several real applications.
One important part of developing lighting products is the ability to deliver the correct amount of fixture lumens that the end user needs, within a fixture size and shape that is appropriate for the application. For instance, recessed fixtures need to generate high amounts of lumens in a small 6 or 8 inch diameter fixture size, whereas linear fluorescent fixtures could have equal luminous output but delivered these lumens from a fixture that is sized approximate 2 feet by 4 feet.
To be effective, the OLED has to deliver the appropriate lumens for the fixture type it is specified for, and it should not require the fixture to significantly grow larger to accommodate this light source. The current OLED panels do not deliver a high luminance (intensity) of light. At the current 100 to 120 lumens per 4" x4" panel there are numerous applications that would require too many panels to achieve the needed lumen output. Even for those applications that OLED's has the ability deliver the proper performance and function, the large number of panels could unduly elevate the price beyond what is reasonably expected in the market. With a current life limited to 10 -15 thousand hours OLED panels are not generally appropriate yet for many commercial applications.
Fortunately there are several lighting applications that can initially absorb the higher price of this new technology, moderate life span and still become viable products. For now OEM's need to highlight the unique features of this technology, such as it unique thinness, low heat and low glare characteristics to justify the cost of the technology. Ideal applications that showcase these features and can accept the current lumen output of these panels would tend toward decorative and task oriented fixtures where price and value is more shaped by appearance and less on life and performance.
The ones that could work best with the current OLED performance and the price points (and those of the coming next generation) seem to be: 1) low brightness exterior fixtures, 2) task specific fixtures, and 3) higher end decorative fixtures
1-Exterior Fixtures
Exterior lighting, at a residential entry way, needs only limited intensity to illuminate the immediate area at night. The common mounting height at eye level requires the fixture to have less glare, so as not to blind visitors at night. Lower exterior illumination levels and low glare applications are a perfect match for OLED's. In residential and commercial exterior fixtures, they can be made to stand out in a unique and decorative ways to create a new contemporary "coach light" application. Most fixtures would be mounted traditionally in front of a recessed junction box. However since OLED's are low voltage, they can also be installed as a flush mounted retrofit, even after the architecture is built. A flush mounted OLED step light, decorative wall luminaire, or even OLED pathway lighting can be mounted this way. They could be easily attached to many surfaces in existing exterior applications with low voltage wiring and a remote driver.
2-Task Specific Applications
Lower brightness general task applications, where the light 
source is closer to the surface being illuminated, are well suited for current OLED panels. These panels can be placed in routed recesses in a cabinet shelving material to make an invisible flush faced undercabinet light, or attached on the underside of a display shelf to illuminate a display case. A thin profile task application like a wall mounted bed light would also be an ideal fixture type to show off the thin profile of this light source. The OLED panel can also be incorporated into consumer lighted products such as a whisper thin, lightweight, portable illuminated make-up mirror. Portable table lamps are the next place that we will be seeing this light source being used. All of these examples show off this technology well when the end user is willing to pay a premium for the beauty of the thinness of the application.
3-Decorative Interior Fixtures
One of the best places that can take advantage of the 
extraordinarily low profile of the OLED panel would be decorative fixture applications. Higher end decorative fixtures have long been a useful vehicle for the introduction of many new light sources. Halogen lamp technology was first seen in very expensive task lamps and suspended fixtures before the price was sufficiently lowered and they became commonly available to the mass market. Many consumers and lighting specifiers will pay a higher cost for that which is considered unique and different. The thin OLED light source delivers this wow-factor.
Of the most popular decorative fixtures in this category, the suspended pendant and chandelier stand out. Since the lighting performance characteristics of these types of fixture are very subjective, few broadly agreed performance requirements exist. The fixture is most often situated in a room with other supplemental lighting. These decorative fixtures are usually purchased based largely on the appearance, and becomes a visual focal point for the environment. Since the performance characteristics of the OLED panel are not yet as compelling as its thinness characteristics, it is therefore the highly decorative fixture (such as the chandelier) that can best show off this low profile feature and will attract the early adopters of technology. Other higher end decorative fixtures like wall sconces will also be a great showcase for this new technology, and in turn will show the mass market how best to use this new and exciting lighting technology when the prices come down.
Conclusion:
Analysis of the rapid improvements in OLED technology gives some OEM's confidence that getting involved with OLED lighting fixtures is the right move to start considering now. Although there is risk of the technology not keeping pace with the projections, it can be minimized by choosing the right OLED panel provider, understanding the best lighting applications for the currently available panels, and having realistic expectations of initial market sales. A desire to gain experience in this exciting light source technology and an expectation of a longer term return on investment is also required.
The general public is still very positive and very interested in all things LED. After the recent introductions of the latest flat screen TV technology into the market, knowledge of OLED is starting to spread. There are many lighting applications that OLED can not fit into right now, and there are many more fixture types where this technology is not practical. However if you focus on lighting products areas that strongly promote the great features of this light source, then you can start to see the advantages OLED's currently have over other sources. The opportunities will grow for this light source when the performance and costs very soon catch up to the standard inorganic LED. For companies that want to get in on the ground floor of OLED lighting, the time is now.
