Apple's rumored chip switch from Samsung to TSMC may send shockwaves through industry
Concerns are already arising in the semiconductor industry about Apple's potential switch from Samsung to TSMC for production of iPhone and iPad processors.
Supply chain sources indicated to DigiTimes that it is expected Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will begin producing chips for Apple in 2013. The publication has a hit-or-miss track record reporting Apple's future plans, but is known for having sources in the Asian component making market.
In Wednesday's latest report, industry observers indicated that demand for chips from Apple is expected to be massive, with nearly 200 million CPUs for the iPhone and iPad needed every year.
Those orders are expected to require TSMC to need at least 200,000 12-inch wafers to meet demand from Apple. It's also reportedly caused concern among TSMC's current customers who are afraid they could be squeezed out if Apple takes up the bulk of TSMC's orders.
"TSMC's advanced process offerings serve the world's major fabless IC firms including Altera, Qualcomm and Nvidia," the report said. "While being capable of providing sufficient capacity to Apple, TSMC also does not want to upset its existing major clients, the observers noted. Allocating efficiently its production capacity will be a focus for the foundry in 2013, the observers believe."
Morris Chang, chairman and CEO of TSMC, recently indicated it could make sense for his company to dedicate as many as two entire fabrication plants to one company in order to supply enough chips. Some industry watchers interpreted those comments as a sign of a possible deal with Apple.
Rumors of a chipmaking deal between Apple and TSMC have persisted for some time, but Samsung remains the sole supplier of custom ARM-based processors for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV. However, a growing rift between Samsung and Apple ? two companies that fiercely compete in numerous markets ? has increased chatter suggesting Apple plans to move its chip production away from Samsung.
One rumor out of Taiwan last month claimed Apple's future iOS devices could be powered by custom chips from TSMC as soon as late 2013. It was suggested that those processors could be quad-core chips based on a 20-nanometer manufacturing process.
Another rumor that surfaced in August claimed that Apple made an offer for around $1 billion that would have made TSMC a dedicated chip producer to Apple alone. The offer was allegedly rejected by TSMC, as the company was said to be interested in staying involved in the booming broader smartphone market.
Supply chain sources indicated to DigiTimes that it is expected Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will begin producing chips for Apple in 2013. The publication has a hit-or-miss track record reporting Apple's future plans, but is known for having sources in the Asian component making market.
In Wednesday's latest report, industry observers indicated that demand for chips from Apple is expected to be massive, with nearly 200 million CPUs for the iPhone and iPad needed every year.
Those orders are expected to require TSMC to need at least 200,000 12-inch wafers to meet demand from Apple. It's also reportedly caused concern among TSMC's current customers who are afraid they could be squeezed out if Apple takes up the bulk of TSMC's orders.
"TSMC's advanced process offerings serve the world's major fabless IC firms including Altera, Qualcomm and Nvidia," the report said. "While being capable of providing sufficient capacity to Apple, TSMC also does not want to upset its existing major clients, the observers noted. Allocating efficiently its production capacity will be a focus for the foundry in 2013, the observers believe."
Morris Chang, chairman and CEO of TSMC, recently indicated it could make sense for his company to dedicate as many as two entire fabrication plants to one company in order to supply enough chips. Some industry watchers interpreted those comments as a sign of a possible deal with Apple.
Rumors of a chipmaking deal between Apple and TSMC have persisted for some time, but Samsung remains the sole supplier of custom ARM-based processors for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV. However, a growing rift between Samsung and Apple ? two companies that fiercely compete in numerous markets ? has increased chatter suggesting Apple plans to move its chip production away from Samsung.
One rumor out of Taiwan last month claimed Apple's future iOS devices could be powered by custom chips from TSMC as soon as late 2013. It was suggested that those processors could be quad-core chips based on a 20-nanometer manufacturing process.
Another rumor that surfaced in August claimed that Apple made an offer for around $1 billion that would have made TSMC a dedicated chip producer to Apple alone. The offer was allegedly rejected by TSMC, as the company was said to be interested in staying involved in the booming broader smartphone market.
Comments
1. DigiTimes
2. Can a Samsung competitor create the high level of quality?
3. Samsung is doomed, loosing a $1B orders from Apple
4. Apple shouldn't have a single chip provider; SPOF
5. Will Apple shift to Intel chips?
Given Cook's past supply chain genius tactics, is it any wonder TSMC wouldn't have a bar of commiting to Apple? Fool me once...
Don't see why, Apple has been looking to drop Samsung for quite a while so was hardly unexpected. The companies that get pushed out can go knocking at Samsungs door as they will have a lot of spare capacity.
What's worth more to Samsung in over all profit, Apple's Business or their handset sales, anyone know?
TSMC better get it together. I don't hear negative things about them, but demand is demand and it may get dicey.
I'm sure Apple has been planning this for quite awhile
This, if happened, would be a bad shift. Seriously, that'd just mean current TSMC customers will order from Samsung instead of TSMC while Apple would order from TSMC. That means other customers (i.e. Android device manufactures) will get better chips than Apple.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilBoogie
If no shockwaves through industry it'll at least happen in this thread. People will likely touch on:
1. DigiTimes
2. Can a Samsung competitor create the high level of quality?
3. Samsung is doomed, loosing a $1B orders from Apple
4. Apple shouldn't have a single chip provider; SPOF
5. Will Apple shift to Intel chips?
Wow, you totally missed what I'm going to say.
I think that if Apple wants an exclusive supplier, they need to find somebody with good technology but a small marketshare. Seems to me that's IBM. Apple should come to IBM and say "here's the deal -- we'll pay for all your fabs if you use them to make POWER chips for yourself, ARM chips for us, and nothing for anybody else." If they can get over their past, it could be a great partnership.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cnocbui
So really not the slightest proof Apple intends to 'switch from Samsung'.
Given Cook's past supply chain genius tactics, is it any wonder TSMC wouldn't have a bar of commiting to Apple? Fool me once...
I suspect you were trying to be sarcastic, but in fact Cook IS a supply chain genius. Apple wouldn't be nearly as successful today without Cook's skills supporting Jobs' strengths. If there's a supply chain Hall of Fame, Cook is a shoo-in for election in his first year of eligibility.
I dont think this would surprise anyone. But it definitely steps the Apple-Samsung breakup up another level. The $1billion lawsuit win already stepped things up another notch. Loosing more $Billions in annual chip manufactering sales doubles down on that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by drobforever
This, if happened, would be a bad shift. Seriously, that'd just mean current TSMC customers will order from Samsung instead of TSMC while Apple would order from TSMC. That means other customers (i.e. Android device manufactures) will get better chips than Apple.
Aren't Samsung using TSMC made Qualcomm based chips in their LTE capable phones?
Oh, snap...
...dragon.
http://gigaom.com/apple/samsungs-austin-plant-gets-overhaul-prep-for-new-iphone-ipad-chips/
Quote:
Originally Posted by drobforever
This, if happened, would be a bad shift. Seriously, that'd just mean current TSMC customers will order from Samsung instead of TSMC while Apple would order from TSMC. That means other customers (i.e. Android device manufactures) will get better chips than Apple.
What a load of nonsense.
This sounds like the last step in a long, carefully executed series of steps towards moving away from Samsung as a supplier to me. It's neither rash, nor unexpected (it's been in the planning stages for years), and Apple Insider has itself posted numerous articles about Apple trying to move to TSMC in the past.
For those that say, "they need an exclusive supplier" ... they already asked (it's in the article that you didn't read very carefully).
For those that say, "Samsung is the best, they need Samsung" ... they clearly aren't and TSMC has a long list of A-list customers (also mentioned in article).
For those that say, "They should make them in the USA!" ... stupid, stupid, stupid. (not even going to get into why as it's just too bleeding obvious).
Samsung should just make peace and take Apple's offer for a license to its patents and vice versa, just as it has done with Microsoft, just as HTC has done with Apple, etc. before Samsung got greedy - not wanting to pay anyone's including for its previous licenses, and stubbornly kept copying.
I thought they were already being made in the USA, and if Apple drops Samsung they won't be anymore. It'll be China, Taiwan, or Camas, WA, USA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_semiconductor_fabrication_plants
They are a mutinational conglomerate. Most such organizations allow, enable and encourage every "division" to grow and expand. There are not many chapters in history when a conglomerate sacrificed one company to help another thrive, unless the sacrificial lamb is small. In this case, both the smartphone and the semiconductors division are in the top echelon of their respective industries. I suspect they are trying their best to convince Apple that the operations are independent.