Orders from Apple control much of touch panel industry
updated 12:10 pm EDT, Wed October 6, 2010
Quartz components buoy TXC
Apple is currently the dominant customer amongst Asian touch panel suppliers, a Digitimes report indicates. "Almost every" touch panel maker capable of mass production is said to be receiving orders from Apple; Wintek and TPK Touch in particular are said to be benefiting from strong iPad sales. Those companies along with Sintek and Cando are all gaining extra capacity this quarter, suggesting that Apple orders may prevent them from suffering a usual seasonal slump.
Shipments for tablets other than the iPad are so far said to be samll. Rather than reflecting poor demand, however, the problem is simply that while orders have been received, bulk shipments are not expected to begin in earnest until 2011. One of the only iPad rivals due on the market in the near future is the Samsung Galaxy Tab.
A relatively new addition to Apple's supplier roster, TXC, is meanwhile said to be riding high on sales of quartz components to the company. Even though it only joined the supply chain in the third quarter, TXC is already estimated to be deriving some 20 percent of its revenue from Apple orders. Aiding in the matter are orders from Qualcomm and Broadcom, which themselves are Apple suppliers.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2001
Monopoly!!!!
Apple should be FORCED to reduce its demand for touch screens so other competitors can catch up with them. Apple should be required by the government to limit sales of iPads to one-per-day-per-reseller so Samsung can get its tablets to market and compete. It's the only fair thing to do. Competition is good and Apple is just plain unfair in its sales of iPads while the competition languishes, struggling to get something, anything, onto the shelves.
And you know they will :-<