As device manufacturers jump on the touchscreen bandwagon, suppliers are apparently stepping up production of both single- and dual-layer touch-sensitive displays that could see overall handset prices fall.  Currently, high-end smartphones such as Apple’s iPhone use a dual-layer touchscreen, while cheaper single-layer panels lag behind in sensitivity; manufacturer J Touch, however, is already shipping the low-cost displays to “a major Korean handset vendor” while concentrating development of improved finger response.  Meanwhile, prices of dual-layer displays from Young Fast Optoelectronics, comparable to the iPhone’s, have fallen to almost 50-percent of what Apple is believed to be paying ($10 versus $15-20).

The race now seems to be in earnest, with both companies attempting to hit the all-important price and response balance.  Young Fast has already dismissed any suggestion of it beginning to develop single-layer touchscreens “because of the low pricing for the segment”.