Osram has released the Parathom Classic which it touts as the first led lamp with a screw base that can directly replace a 40W GLS lamp. The company boasts that the Led-based bulb uses a mere 8W or 80 percent less electricity to produce the same light yield. It has a useful life of an estimated 25,000 hours. The company notes that it is compact, shatter-proof, and resistant to vibrations. Also, Osram says that the mercury free bulb produces light that contains no ultra-violet or infrared radiation.

"The Osram Parathom Classic is the ultimate cutting-edge product for end users who wish to be ahead of the pack when it comes to Lighting technology, providing them with the most innovative and energy-efficient lighting technology the world has ever seen," said Christian Schraft, Head of Consumer Lighting at OSRAM. "We are proud to launch the very first bulb shaped LED lamp which constitutes a true substitute for a 40W incandescent lamp. This move will speed the advance of LED technology as a genuine alternative for general lighting applications."

The Parathom? Classic A 40 is ideal for accent lighting. The LED retrofit product range also includes the Parathom Classic B 25 and a host of additional products. The Parathom reflector series is reportedly an ideal accent light for special features such as pictures, objects or plants, while the lamps in the Parathom Deco series add a blaze of color. The LED-bulbs come in blue, green, red, yellow or alternating colors.