Apple said to be pointing to GlobalFoundries for chip making
A longtime customer of Samsung, Apple is reportedly looking at other companies to also manufacture its iPhone and iPad chips.
Word has it that Apple may be looking to hire GlobalFoundries to make some of the chips used in its iPhones and iPads, according to the Albany Times Union.
Sources familiar with the matter told the newspaper that GlobalFoundries could soon begin manufacturing some of Apple's chips at its Fab 8 factory in Malta, N.Y.
Currently, Samsung makes the majority of chips for Apple's mobile devices. This includes Apple's powerful new A7 chip that is in the
It's long rumored that Apple has been looking to expand its chip partners and decrease its dependency on Samsung. Over the past couple of years, the two companies have fiercely dueled over patent battles and smartphone competition.
Despite the speculated tension between the two companies, the Albany Times Union reports that Samsung would continue to make chips for Apple, along with assist GlobalFoundries in getting its Apple chip manufacturing processes set up. Reportedly, Samsung and GlobalFoundries have similar chip-making "recipes."
Rumors of Apple talking to GlobalFoundries for chip making deal also floated in July. A semiconductor industry source told CNET that the two companies were "kicking the tires." But "by no means" is any firm deal imminent at this point, the source said at that time.
Besides GlobalFoundries, it's also been said that Apple has been in talks with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company about making chips for its upcoming mobile devices. It's been said that Samsung will continue to work on the A7 series of chips and TSMC will do A8, A9, and A9X chips -- or that there will be some mixture of the two.
CNET contacted GlobalFoundries and Apple for comment. We'll update this story when we get more information.