Samsung team of 200 solely develops display tech for Apple, highlighting importance of partnership

Posted:
in General Discussion edited April 2015
Although the two companies remain mortal enemies in the consumer electronics market, Apple continues to be an extremely important part of Samsung's component supply business, as highlighted by a 200-person team devoted entirely to developing new display technology for the iPhone maker.




Samsung hopes the dedicated Apple-only team in its display business will help strengthen ties with the company, according to Bloomberg. Relations between Apple and Samsung have been strained over the years, as the two companies have competed and traded jabs in the smartphone business, tablet market, and even in the courtroom.

Samsung Display Co. is said to have formed this team relatively recently, on April 1, and they are also said to be involved with sales, in addition to technology. According to Wednesday's report, Samsung's Apple-devoted team will only share information about Apple's business within the group, forming an apparent firewall, of sorts, to separate itself from the rest of the South Korean electronics giant.

Also on April 1, Samsung Display Co. is said to have split its development teams focused on liquid crystal display technology, which Apple uses in the iPhone and MacBooks, and its organic light emitting diode team, a newer display technology that Apple uses in the upcoming Apple Watch.

Having a separate team devoted entirely to business with Apple is not a unique concept, as Bloomberg also noted that LG Display Co. employs a similar approach.

Beyond displays, Samsung over the years has also been a key provider of Apple's custom A-series chips that power the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. Starting last year, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. took away some of Samsung's share of Apple's chip business, but it's rumored that Samsung will regain share this year with a so-called "A9" chip for Apple's next iPhone.
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