Nearly 60 per cent of the world’s touch-screen panels have already been secured by Apple, in a move that will leave competitors like RIM and HP struggling for getting touch-screen panels for their devices.

Eamerging reports claim that Apple has already prepaid $3.9 billion to the key manufacturers, Wintek and TPK, to get touch-screen panels over a long period of time.

Signing long-term contracts with the manufacturers of touch-screen panels will allows the iPhone-maker to control pricing. Rival companies like Motorola, HP and RIM will now compete for the remaining 40 per cent of touch-screen panels. The scarcity will definitely push the prices of the panels up.

Last year, Apple had to struggle hard to keep pace with demand for the iPhone and the iPad due to shortage of touch-screen panels.

According to a research, a total of 59.5 million tablets were sold last year, with Apple’s iPad accounting for 10.2 million.

iSuppli is of the view that Apple will be able to sell 44 million iPad or iPad 2 tablets in 2011.