Apple's future "A7" chips for 2014's "iPhone 6" will be built by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. once the existing contract with Samsung expires, a new rumor claims.
As Intel gets into the chip contracting business, the company could obtain as much as 10 percent of Apple's next-generation mobile chip orders, insiders believe.
Two of Apple's top suppliers are reportedly adding staff in apparent anticipation of an uptick in demand for their services.
This year, Apple will spend $10 billion investing in its future. That's a huge increase over last year, and it obliterates the popular notion that the company is drifting off into a highly competitive market with no real plans for innovating in the future.
Officials at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. have high hopes for their forthcoming 20-nanometer chip production process, fueling speculation that Apple plans to adopt the company's chips for its iPhone and iPad starting in 2014.
After years of rumors, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is said to finally begin trial production of A6X chips for Apple's fourth-generation iPad this quarter, further marginalizing Samsung's role in Apple's supply chain.
New York, California, Texas and Oregon are all said to be competing to become home to a major semiconductor manufacturer said to have ties with Apple and production of chips for devices like the iPhone and iPad.
New York state economic development officials have reportedly been pitched plans for a 3.2-million-square-foot chip manufacturing factory that could produce components for Apple's iPhone and iPad.
For Apple to move production of its iPhone and iPhone and iPad chips away from Samsung would be a long, difficult process with only three realistic alternative companies.
Concerns are already arising in the semiconductor industry about Apple's potential switch from Samsung to TSMC for production of iPhone and iPad processors.
Apple's future iOS devices may be powered by custom chips built by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., taking a key component away from rival Samsung, according to a new rumor.
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Neil Hughes
Sam Oliver
Kevin Bostic
Daniel Eran Dilger
Katie Marsal
