Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), is currently in a complex process of negotiating contracts to ensure that it will be able to have enough batteries for phones in the future iPhone. Specifically, Apple is negotiating directly with mining companies to buy enough cobalt to produce iPhone and iPad batteries in sufficient quantities in the future.
It seems that for some time now there have been fears about possible problems regarding the coverage of the need for cobalt to produce batteries for electronic devices in the future. The increase in popularity of electric cars would lead to a huge increase in the demand for batteries and implicitly in the demand for the cobalt used in them.
Apple has been buying this metal for some time for companies that produce batteries, and in order to have enough cobalt in the future, those from Cupertino are now negotiating with mining companies. While Samsung is looking for alternatives to cobalt, those at Apple are trying to make sure they have enough of this kind of material for the hundreds of millions of products they sell annually.
"Apple is seeking contracts to secure several thousand metric tons of cobalt a year for five years or longer, according to one of the people, declining to be named as the discussions are confidential. Apple's first discussions on cobalt deals with miners were over a year ago, and it may end up deciding not to go ahead with any deal, another person said."
Apple will, in fact, enter into direct competition not only with mobile phone manufacturers but also with car manufacturers, and a lot of money could come out of this for the mining companies. Apple tried 1 year ago to conclude long-term contracts with mining companies, but then decided to give up the plan, but now it is forced to do so in order to be able to produce enough electronic devices in the future.
