Week I told you that Apple and Intel discussed the possibility of concluding an agreement for the production of chips that would be implemented in future iDevices. Although for now the two companies have not concluded any agreement, here is what we hear from Asia a news interesting related to a possible collaboration between the two companies. It seems that Intel could get orders to produce 10% of the total chips A7 which would be implemented in iDevices, Samsung and TSMC also being interested in contracts with Apple.
According to institutional investors, Intel may obtain 10% of Apple's A7 processor orders. The patent lawsuits between Samsung and Apple have been heating up, causing the latter to reduce its reliance on the former. Apple has been shifting orders of DRAM, mobile RAM chips and panels away from Samsung. Samsung used to be the sole OEM firm for Apple's processors, but the latter has now begun to issue orders to other firms. TSMC has been said to become the second largest supplier for Apple's A7 processors and production is reportedly to begin in 2014. But recently rumors have spread that Intel may also receive Apple's orders. According to institutional investors, Samsung is likely to receive 50% of the A7 processor orders, TSMC 40%, and Intel 10%.
In practice, TSMC would produce 40% of the A7 chips, Samsung 50% and Intel the last 10 percent, but for now nothing is 100% certain. Apple is trying to give up on Samsung for the production of chips, for now it cannot do this, but in the future Samsung could produce fewer and fewer components for iDevices, this only if Apple manages to find replacements suitable for its needs.
