Amazon.com has purchased flexible touchscreen maker Touchco in an apparent attempt to beef up technology aboard its Kindle e-readers to better compete against Apple’s iPad, the New York Times reported Wednesday.
Touchco was formed by a team of computer scientists from New York University’s Media Research Lab to develop low-cost, low-power multitouch screens with a technology called interpolating force-sensitive resistance (IFSR). The screens can be used in e-readers and a host of other devices and cost as little as US$10 per square foot, according to the report.
A notice on Touchco’s Web site says simply that, “As of January 2010, the company is no longer doing business.”
Amazon currently uses screen technology from market leader E-ink, which was bought by Taiwanese manufacturer Prime View International last year. E-ink technology is used in a number of e-readers, including Sony’s Reader.
Neither Touchco nor Amazon could immediately be reached for comment.