Apple is buying up touchscreen displays for the 40 million iPad tablets it intends to sell in 2011, and it has scooped up 60 percent of the global touchscreen inventory. Apple has secured most of the touchscreen displays coming off the production line of panel makers Wintek and TPK and has created a shortage among second-tier tablet makers. The report suggests RIM, HP and Motorola are competing for the remaining inventory, a situation that makes it difficult for smaller manufacturers to compete in this growing market.
The bulk of these displays are glass capacitive panels, similar to the ones currently used in the iPad and the iPhone. As an alternative, manufacturers may be forced to use a thin-film capacitive touchscreen display that provides the same functionality, b
