TMSC Sends 60-Member Team to Apple (for iPhone 5 and iPad 3 Anyone?)
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is heading onsite to meet with the folks at Apple to discuss the use of the A6, showing their support for their product’s use in future products such as the iPhone 5 and iPad 3.
This visit comes just a few weeks after Apple signed a foundry partnership agreement with TSMC, tapping the producer to supply their next line of processors.
Many of those involved are from Global UniChip, TSMC’s design service partner. It may appear to be quite the entourage, but with this being the first venture between the two companies I suspect they are looking to make sure there are no misunderstandings or mistakes. Apple is going to want a lot of product and they are going to be really careful when making a manufacturing change as large as this.
Until this iteration, every single one of the 250 million + processors (including the just-released iPhone 4S) used by Apple in their product line has been provided by a Samsung owned company. Given the recent legal difficulties between the two companies, Apple has moved on and tapped the Taiwan-based TSMC. Good news for TSMC, not so good for Samsung. But what did they expect when they started suing?
Full details on the specifications and capabilities of the A6 chip are not entirely known, but it is expected they will be significantly more powerful. This is important as Apple moves forward, contemplating putting this style of processor in additional products such as the MacBook Air.
Beginning in 1987, TSMC has grown to become the world’s first dedicated semiconductor foundry. TSMC prides themselves on forming solid partnerships with their customers, which makes for a perfect fit with the Apple corporate culture.
I think the real significance of this visit is that Apple is starting to pick up the proverbial pieces after Jobs’ death earlier this week and start moving on with business as usual. Jobs would be pleased.
[via Digitimes]