Taiwan-based touch controller IC makers are gearing up efforts to dent market share from international rivals as the global controller IC segment is expected to grow by over 50% in 2011, according to industry sources.

Taiwan-based touch controller vendors are now offering their chips ranging from US$2-3 per unit compared to a range of US$3-6 rendered by international players, the sources indicated.

Taiwan-based touch panel module makers are likely to be attracted by the low-priced products as well as services offered by local IC design houses, the source asserted.

While first-tier vendors such as Apple, HTC and Samsung Electronics still prefer to adopt touch controllers from international suppliers, some Taiwan-based IC vendors have begun shipping their solutions to second-tier brand vendors and white-box product makers since the second half of the year, said sources at touch module makers.

Local IC vendors, including Elan Microelectronics, Egalax-empia Technology (EETI), Novatek Microelectronics, Integrated Technology Express (ITE), Silicon Precision Industries (SPIL), Sitronix Technology, and Weltrend Semiconductor, have also reportedly landed orders from Taiwan-based touch module makers.

Local IC vendors will see their sales gaining momentum in the first quarter of 2011 when more Taiwan-based touch module vendors such as Wintek, TPK Touch Solutions, Sintek Photronics and Young Fast Optoelectronics begin to use their touch solutions, commented the sources.