14 DAY TRIAL // According to the latest news on the Web, Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia intends to release in the near future new touchscreen handsets that will feature capacitive screens, in comparison with the existing resistive one that has been used in the company's flagship Nokia 5800 XpressMusic device, though rumors pointed towards a capacitive screen for 5800 as well.
For what it's worth, it seems that the company has taken the decision to adopt Synaptics' touchscreen IC solution for its upcoming high-end handset expected to be launched in the third quarter of the ongoing year, says DigiTimes. In addition, there are great chances that the company will also include multi-touch capabilities in the future phone.
Moreover, sources at Taiwan IC designers are reported to have stated that the company would get related modules and glass from other makers, while also adding that manufacturers like Samsung Electronics, High Tech Computer (HTC) and Research In Motion (RIM) were also getting their touchscreen ICs from Synaptics.
In related news, we learn that the Finnish maker has placed 3.5-inch TFT-LCD panel orders for its Nokia N97 high-end mobile phone with TPO Displays, while a second panel maker, Wintek, is reported to start supplying the company with capacitive touch panels. There are no exact details on the device that will include the capacitive touch panels, yet Wintek is known to also be the supplier of resistive touch panels for Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic.
While announcing, at the end of 2008, that it expected to see its handset shipments slow down a lot in 2009, Nokia is now reported to have started placing rush orders since March, while also resuming product development projects. Following this change, panel makers say they are expecting more orders from the handset maker. In addition, industry sources seem to have said that the company intended to launch new handsets during the second quarter of the year.