Samsung to manufacture A6 chip for Apple iPhone 5
Apple and Samsung have been violently engaged in legal battles on various parts around the world. However, it looks like there is still hope for a peaceful reconciliation. The Korean Times reports that, despite their differences, the Korean tech giant and the Cupertino firm will still be working on the iPhone 5.
According to rumors, Apple has contracted another firm, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), to create the A6 chip. However, according to new reports, Samsung is still onboard. In fact, it has increased chip production in its Austin plant in Texas.
An anonymous Apple exec told The Korean Times, “Apple has been in talks with Samsung over shipment of its A6 quad-core mobile processor (AP) chips to be used in the next iPhone. It appears that Apple clearly has concluded that Samsung remains a critical business partner… Samsung Electronics will apply its advanced 28-nanometer processing technology to produce qualified A6 mobile APs,”
TSMC, however, will still produce a limited amount of customized chips for Apple. Apple still does not want to take the risk of giving the entire contracted to an untested manufacturer.
On Steve Job’s private memorial, Samsung’s CEO, Lee Jae-Yong, was invited. This does suggest that the relationship between the two was not as bad as we thought.
This still doesn’t mean that the two have ceased to legally outmaneuver each other on various parts of the world. Apple has managed to ban the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany and Australia. Samsung is attempting to do the same thing in Australia and other countries in Europe with the iPhone 4S.
This does, however, show that the two are willing to work together to get Steve Jobs’ legacy out in the market. After all, there is a lot of money to be made with the partnership.
