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TSMC secures A6, A7 SoC contracts, Apple divorces Samsung?

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TSMC secures A6, A7 SoC contracts, Apple divorces Samsung?
We’ve already heard talk about Apple divorcing Samsung as its chip producer for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), but now Taiwanese daily DigiTimes adds more fuel to the fire saying that Cupertino has signed a foundry partnership with TSMC. The new foundry is expected to be responsible for making not only the A6 chip expected to land on the Apple iPhone 6, but also the next-gen A7 chip. TSMC will produce the chips using 28nm and 20nm technology.

While the rumor about Samsung getting ditched has persisted, there was wide disbelief that Apple would kick off orders with TSMC before 2012. The Korean phone maker single-handedly helped Apple develop and roll out the A4 and A5 chips. On the other hand, though, TSMC seems to have pushed the deal further with test production of the A6 chip reportedly already going on at its factories. The agreement is reportedly favorable for the Taiwanese manufacturer and won’t bring its 46% gross margin.

Landind the A6 SoC comes with its share of responsibilities and technical requirements including 3D stacking technology. Actually, it’s that exact 3D build that might have forced TSMC to go through another trial run as the design of the chip has changed.

Apple has reportedly not talked backend manufacturing with TSMC and might need to split things like packaging and testing between various company with likely candidates including Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) and Amkor Technology.


Image courtesy of BENM.AT.

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53 Comments

1. andro. (unregistered) posted on 16 Sep 2011, 05:54 4 7

This is simples,Apple are falling behind in the market to android and samsung,so if they can't beat or control them they try to sue them,the childish sueing has been unsuccessful so now they will try to source components else where. TSMC will be under ball and chain from here on and knee bowing to apple will follow

4. Life (unregistered) posted on 16 Sep 2011, 07:45 2 1

As Apple goes down the dominance of the western world will go down. East Asian companies and their markets will be the largest in the world. South Korean companies like Samsung, LG etc., will make their own operating systems soon and will also overtake this market. Other top companies from Taiwan -TSMC, HTC, Chine -ZTE, Huawei , Japan - sony etc. will see a rise as Western companies like Nokia go down. Well all of this depend on the products they launch, the market conditions and most importantly; peoples' response.

17. bucky posted on 16 Sep 2011, 12:03

its just business.

48. Life (unregistered) posted on 17 Sep 2011, 05:28

Not just business, standard of living, country's economy will change accordingly. RIM has also reported a drop in earnings. Western world is going down.

2. som posted on 16 Sep 2011, 06:21 8 6

Rotten Apple go to hell.

3. remixfa posted on 16 Sep 2011, 06:42 9 4

good, i was tired of samsung letting them use some of their best technology while they were being sued for stupidity and fear at the same time.

This comment has been moderated, because it doesn`t meet the discussion rules. Show

35. Wazzan posted on 16 Sep 2011, 15:22 1

YEAH SAMSUNG IS THE BEST. I GOT THE SGS2 I GOT QUAD CORE BITCHES. YOU CANT HANDLE MY s**t. IT INSANE THE IPHONE IT JUST FOR PANZYS. LOOK APPLE COPIED SAMSUNG LOOK THE IPHONE LOOKS JUST LIKE THE GALAXY. YEAH I SAID IT THE SAME THING. THEN APPLE'S SUES SLAMIN SAMMY. THATS WHY I GOT A REAL PHONE NOT SOME PANZY s**tT. I HEARD MY PHONE GETTING UPGRADE TO 5G SOON. THATS WHY I AM SO BOSS.

5. ivanko34 posted on 16 Sep 2011, 08:11 2 2

But apple has no amoled display...

36. Wazzan posted on 16 Sep 2011, 15:22

BECAUSE THEY SUCK

41. Wazzan posted on 16 Sep 2011, 16:04

hard2

6. Kjayhawk posted on 16 Sep 2011, 08:20 4 4

Would it kill apple to hire an american manufacturer?

People like Taco wonder why people hate apple. The truth is Apple is a profit only company and does whatever it takes to make a profit not caring about peoples rights. Paying people 50 dollars a month to make your ipods. I'm not saying people who purchase these products are bad people, many don't know. at least Some companies like Samsung create parts here in the United States a Korean company might I add.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061501898.html

7. tech-head posted on 16 Sep 2011, 08:30 2

Exactly...

8. remixfa posted on 16 Sep 2011, 10:33 4 1

talk about a ramen diet.. oi.

apple, maker of shiney things on the backs and lives of deserate people.

10. taz89 posted on 16 Sep 2011, 11:30 3

Apple will do whatever makes them the most money...why do you think they have such huge cash reserves? Because they hardly spend...just look at all the small iterations between the iphones...doubt much r&d happened and the ipad is a big iPod touch so again hardly any r&d...thats 3 supposed different products but are really the same devices with one being bigger and one without radio's etc

11. gallitoking posted on 16 Sep 2011, 11:31 1 4

there in business to make a profit like any other sucessfully company... educate yourself please... and tell me the parts Samsung creates in the States..

53. Doodi (unregistered) posted on 18 Sep 2011, 23:21

Hey..Samsung Electronics has 2 wafer processing fabs in Austin Texas.!!

12. darth8ball posted on 16 Sep 2011, 11:32 2 1

taco will no doubt argue that Android makers use the same type of labor to produce their products.

But notice that Apple doesn't pass the 'slave labor' prices on to the consumer. In the words of taco and his group of isheep you have to be rich to afford the iPhone so this is the rich screwing over the poor. Nice job fanboys

14. taco50 posted on 16 Sep 2011, 11:41 2 4

So fandroids how do android manufacturers make phones? Don't they use the same types of factories. If you don't like it that's fine, but be consistent. Bash Apple, HTC, Samsung etc. Have you ever looked on the back of pretty much any product? It's all made in China, Mexico etc.

Losers haters. Can't wait to see the wounded cries when the iPhone 5 comes out and smashes the competition.

15. darth8ball posted on 16 Sep 2011, 11:56 3 1

If they are all made in the same factories using the same slave labor, when the investigations are done why don't you read about Samsung, HTC, RIM, LG, and others, we are only reading about Apple, they are either the only ones doing it or the only ones stupid enough to get caught.

16. taco50 posted on 16 Sep 2011, 12:02 2 3

Because everything Apple is news. Steve Jobs can fart and it will make the news. Answer the question. How does Samsung make phones? If your answer is I don't know then you're a hypocrite.

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