Apple planning to replace Samsung chips with TSMC CPUs
The rivalry between the two e-giants Apple and Samsung is not all about law suits and disputes, or the severe competition for market share and profits. They are also business partners. Samsung provides a variety of components to Apple, many of these used in the Apple’s own mobile devices.
Recently there was a speculation that Samsung was to increase the processor prices for Apple, and would also cut the supply of batteries to the iPhone maker.
There’s now a new rumor that Apple is planning for 2013 to replace the Samsung made CPU, used in their iOS devices, with processors made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacture Company (TSMC), a giant in the CPU-making business.
Apple requires some 200 million processors every year. This means that by adding Apple to its clients list TSMC will surely make a great move, as this would secure them lots of cash, which Samsung will also surely miss, despite the tense relationship it has with Apple. At the same time however, TSMC has to balance its business relations between Apple and its other customers, with companies like Altera, Qualcomm and NVIDIA being also among its clients. It’s also worth remembering that TSMC is going to soon make 20nm SOCs, which could also be a factor when it comes to such deals.
