Apple Causing Touchscreen Shortage?

Tweet

The iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad are all great devices. But there are also a handful of other touchscreen devices that run on different platforms, like Android and Windows Phone 7. But what happens when Apple has most of the touchscreen component supplies?

Reports say that Apple has beat other manufacturers to the game, in terms of signing supply contracts with major touchscreen suppliers. Apple is said to have snapped up 60% of the touchscreen supply from the big manufacturers. Apple is targeting to ship 40 million iGadgets this year, and has signed supply contracts with TPK and Wintek, in order to meet this target. However, this leaves only little to other smartphone and tablet manufacturers, who might have difficulty in sourcing touch screen panels from suppliers.

How bad will a touch panel shortage affect other smartphone manufacturers? We’ve heard before how a shortage of AMOLED supply had manufacturers choose lesser quality touchscreens. Even Apple experienced shortage of iPhone displays before. If touchscreen panels in general are in short supply, then this might cause a big dent on the Android and Windows smartphone sides of the market.