According to some sources close to the manufacturers of touchscreen screens in Asia, Apple captured approximately 60% of the total production of touchscreen screens, globally. We already knew that Apple signed contracts with several suppliers of touchscreen screens, but it is amazing how much of the global production the company requires for its iDevices. At the moment, many tablet manufacturers have problems in procuring enough components for the tablets that will appear on the market.
Sources from tablet PC makers also pointed out that the component shortage is causing their shipment volumes to be unable to catch up with their orders, especially for second-tier players. Touch panels are currently suffering the most serious shortage due to Apple holding control over the capacity of major touch panel makers such as Wintek and TPK, and with US-based RIM, Motorola and Hewlett-Packard (HP) also competing for related components, second -tier players are already out of the game, the sources noted.
After the presentation of the financial results for the fourth semester of 2010, it was rumored that Apple would invest 3.9 billion dollars in components that would ensure a strategic advantage for the following years. Considering the recent information regarding how much of the global production of touchscreen screens Apple captures, we can draw the conclusion that the said money was invested in signing contracts with certain touchscreen screen manufacturers in Asia.
