Apple could ditch Samsung as a parts supplier following patent battle

By on Jul 11, 2011 at 5:00 PM
Business July 11, 2011

Apple could cut Samsung from its list of part suppliers, an arrangement that is worth as much as $5 billion for Samsung, one analyst has suggested. “They have become more competitors and less partners and so I think Apple will definitely not be looking to Samsung as its go-to partner-of-choice for NAND flash,” Brian Marshall, a Gleacher & Co. analyst told The Globe and Mail. Apple could instead choose to get its NAND flash products from other companies, such as Hynix Semiconductor, Micron, and Toshiba. Similarly, if Apple were to bail on Samsung as a parts provider, the iPhone maker could look to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (TSMC) or Intel for processors, but it would also need to find another provider for LCDs. Samsung and Apple have been locked in multiple legal battles since Apple accused Samsung of creating “copycat” devices and sought to block the import of its products in the United States.

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  • http://twitter.com/yyandrew Andrew Yang

    Oh children…

  • Anonymous

    Good luck on that….Apple is growing some iron balls here. Karma is a bitch though.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JNKVTT7PJMXPYP2GVCIERBQQCU Andrew

      Wouldn’t Apple be karma since Samsung is the copycat?

      Do you suggest they keep doing business with a company they have a strained relationship with? Whether or not they are right, they don’t have to continue to do business with them if they don’t want. So I’m not sure what this has to do with “karma”.

      • http://twitter.com/shawnwill16 shawn williams

        what did samsung copy?? dont say touch wiz because htc been accused of the same copying….by apple….

        and if samsung was barely able to meet supply for apples demand…how are multiple suppliers going to be able to do it???and be on the same page??good luck apple..i hope you have severe backlogs….

      • Anonymous

        Did you just wake up yesterday? Apple is suing Samsung for trade dress/copying, they are suing HTC for infringing on 20 different patents. One is a method of moving a GUI object along a path with a non-constant velocity for a period of time wo others describe a row of icons that rearranges itself when icons are added or removed, just like the iPhone’s app dock. unlocking a touchscreen device by moving an unlock image. It’s broad
        enough for us to say that it covers virtually every unlock behavior
        we’ve seen on phones, not just the iPhone’s slide-to-unlock
        implementation.

        Courtesy of Former Attorney, Patent Expert and This is my Next Editor
        Nilay Patel

  • Anonymous

    Now I get Samsung’s position….”We damn near build the bloody thing….SCREW YOU!!!”

  • Anonymous

    The people in charge of samsung better suck Steve Job’s dick nice and hard. More proof android will be gone in two years.  true story™©®

    • Shankapotomus

      that same android that is currently kicking apple’s ass is going to be gone in two years?  The only chance of that happening is if Steve Jobs gives more blow jobs down at the patent offices.  I’m sure he is on his knees right now earning a patent on “cellular communication between two devices”. 

      • Flintchesthair

        Lol at android kicking apples ass. Android, who’s COLLECTIVE smartphones from an array of manufacturers are barely outselling a single phone that’s over a year old.

        Android isn’t going anywhere. It’s a free and stable os, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.

      • Shankapotomus

        the 1 phone vs 300 phone argument has never made any sense.  Here is what people decide, do I want an iphone or an android phone?  If they choose apple their decision is over, if they choose android then they get to decide what hardware fits their needs best.  Apple fans try and make it out like a scene from the movie 300 or something.  The choice is Apple or Android, and that’s all that should be compared. 

      • IPwn

        Well shank if you want to make it simple let’s say the choice is between iOS and Android which would be fair since they are both operating systems, in which, iOS has a bigger collective market share than android.

      • Anonymous

        @1c330c11429481aa83a24dc5858a1b95:disqus
        If only the Nexus phones were marketed more.

         I still hear that the Nexus S can still go toe-to-toe with other dualcore phones (then again, so can the iPhone 4). The LG G2x was taken off shelves for being so buggy and my friend went back to his iPhone 4 from his Atrix because of how sluggish he claimed his Atrix was. Also, before Samsung got to fixing the issues with their proprietary file system (they didn’t use MTD or ETC4 for some odd reason) the Galaxy S phones were slow. The problem with that is the Galaxy S and Nexus S are nearly the exact same hardware (the biggest difference was the Nexus S had a different GPS and lack of Micro SD support).

        So, just imagine if the Nexus phones were marketed more. Android would probably be better off. It’s not like you have to hack a Nexus device or a Nexus device will outright destroy its other Android competition to the point where only cheap phones will be left!

    • http://twitter.com/KyleIbbotson Kyle Ibbotson

      @ Scroat- Samsung employee’s can’t because Steve Jobs has a Vagina….. Oops, Sorry Steve, please don’t sue me.

    • http://twitter.com/Kasseren Kasseren

      Why should Samsung be in any trouble if Apple drops them?

      It isn’t that Samsung will have trouble selling the components Apple used to buy, most of them are in short supply, most likely the profit on the products will be even higher as Apple surely gets major rebates. I actually think some people at Samsung hopes Apple drops them.

      Actually it would be more fitting if it was Mr. Jobs that got on the knees, after all if the competition gets access to all the components they need Apple could soon be outdated by better products.

      • Anonymous

        Maybe the parts are in short supply because apple is buying a large chunk of
        them. This isn’t a small customer to samsung. 100 million iPhones and 50
        million ipads are expected to sell in the next year. Do u really think they
        could replace those sales? Apple has been slowly moving away from samsung.
        How else can u explain why samsung lost money for their display division
        last quarter when the market is hotter than ever?  true story™©®

    • Jjp

      The scummy steve jobs that jump the liver transplant waiting list which cost someone there life?

      • Anonymous

        That’s one way to look at it. Another would be steve is a brilliant man
        whose products enrich our lives. Perhaps even save lives. The iPad is used
        in hospitals. Might have happened. We don’t know. With out steve we would
        not have had the iPad. Apple products have saved millions!!!  true
        story™©®

  • Sin City

    Without checking, I’m going to make a bet with myself and say there is at least 6 Apple articles on this one page.  If lower, I’m ban myself.

    • Sin City

      8.  And I thought Gizmodo and Engadget were bad. 

      • Prof. Peabody

        I never understand why people make these kind of remarks.  BGR is a mobile gadget site and Apple makes the number one and number two most popular mobile gadgets (iPhone and iPad).  iOS has the largest market share too.  

        Given all that, why are you guys surprised that there are lots of Apple stories?  Is BGR *not* supposed to report the news?  You want them to suppress stories on the industry leader just because you don’t like them?  How idiotic is that?  

      • http://twitter.com/shawnwill16 shawn williams

        u might wanna check your stats again….ios doesnt have the largest market share in mobile phones…..

      • Sin City

        Sin City : There is nothing but Apple articles posted up in here on a regular basis.

        Prof. Peabody: Replies by saying there is nothing wrong with that as Apple is the best.

        You shut me up with that argument, thanks.  You’re not a dickrider at all.

      • Anonymous

        Prof you’re an iPhag, and iPhags are fags.  true story™©®

  • Tim Hoyt

    have they forgotten the “Apple” A4 and A5 processors are both Samsung silicon?

    • Prof. Peabody

      Samsung manufactured, Apple designed.  They can get any fab house to make them.

      • Anonymous

        Significantly more complicated then just getting “any fab house to make them.”

      • Steve Lee

        Have you ever build computer in the past ? I guess not or I hope not because if you did you wouldnt say that. There is reason why the one is better than the others. There are many company that makes it but not too many are worth of your green

  • Anonymous

    Making BOM changes always works out for the best. :)

  • Astodd1

    Greed greed and…. greed.

  • Anonymous

    Good. Iphone is only as good as the parts other companies provide it with. Apple doesn’t make a damn thing.
    Apple is mad that Samsung refused to let them have the upcoming “Super Amoled HD” displays. 
    Cry on apple. The Iphone will become more and more shitty. with its shitty parts. It is already an old ancient OS that has no choice but to copy android to keep up.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JNKVTT7PJMXPYP2GVCIERBQQCU Andrew

      You’re basically talking about every hardware company in the world.  But regardless of what you think, Apple makes the most important part, the software and they put the hardware together better than any OEM can put an Android together.

      • Anonymous

        The OS is what i basically called out the most. Its a limited , old OS. It HAS to copy to keep up now.
        iphone is like a “smartphone for dummies” Smartphone with training wheels. So a 7 year old of 70 year old can use.
        It was fine years ago but, now that just doesnt cut it.

      • Anonymous

        I agree wholeheartedly.  I hear there are new cars coming that you must know how to work the mechanics of the car to deal with it.  They have “rooting” mechanisms so you can do all kinds of stuff with the cars.  Gone are the days of simply putting the key in the ignition and going.  We don’t need simplicity in our lives.  Right???  Darn man, you and I as Goofans (aka Apple Haters) are the smartest on the planet.

      • Anonymous

        Yeah. I mean, it’s not like it isn’t the world’s best selling smartphone or anything. It clearly doesn’t cut it. 

      • Bringit

        Riiiight.  Smartphones should be as difficult and confusing and messy and fragmented to use as possible.  Clean and easy and well thought out and smooth is for pussies, children and the elderly!

      • Anonymous

        A change in manufacturers means possibe delays for retooling or higher than previously encountered hardware failures due to production quality not being as high.  Or it could mean nothing.  The “software” is showing its age, in my opinion.

      • Steve Lee

        They may make the BEST software but if the hardware cant support it ? then its a $hitty software.
        Maybe Apple wil comeout with $hitty software to go with $hitty  hardware

    • Astodd1

      sounds like a huge bitch to me, cry more?

  • Anonymous

    I think u mean Samsung could ditch Apple.  Apple packs the iPhone full of Samsung parts, and sues Samsung every chance they get.

    • Anonymous

      You are so freaking right fellow Goofan (aka Apple Hater.)  There’s not a single supplier around the world that would be willing to do business with Apple.  The fact they are the most admired company in the world means nothing to these suppliers.  They will run the other way when Apple comes calling. 

      You sire, are a genius and a typical Goofan (aka Apple Hater.)  Typical in your intellectual abilities.  

      • Anonymous

        Dude ur a fucking idiot…im talking from a common sense point of view.  Apple is using Samsung parts, Apple is suing Samsung.  What reason would Apple have to stop using Samsung as a manufacturer?  If Samsung would still be willing to make these parts for Apple after the lawsuits, what reason Apple have to say no?  Which statement makes more sense to u?  “I dont wanna do business with u, cuz i just sued u” or “u just sued me, so i dont know how i feel about doing business with u.”

        Stop being such a big ass Apple dick rider and get some common sense in ur life.  My post wasn’t bashing anybody, i was just saying what makes more sense.  Apple can spin it whatever way they want, but i feel its more like Samsung is pissed about the lawsuit so Apple is cutting ties.  Again stop being such a big ass Apple dick rider and get some common sense dude…also get off my dick.

      • Kurbanh

        What makes most sense is “I’ll take my $5 billion to someone who won’t copy my products” as opposed to “You just sued me so I’m going to not sell stuff to you (my biggest customer) despite the fact that you pay me more than I make off those phones I sell”

      • Mac

        You are such a stupid idiot.

      • Anonymous

        Apple might be admired by its fans but it’s universally hated by industry. Who wants to work with Steve Jobs? Besides there is not a single company left which was not sued by Apple. 

  • Anonymous

    Samsung doesn’t need Apple.  Google will cover the slack for its partner…

  • drew dogg

    Apple would be dead where they stood.

    • Anonymous

      Sure they would. Nice pic. U got that classic faggot hairlip and the just been ass fucked grin. Don’t try and deny it. We can all see the baby batter in the corner of your mouth.  true story™©®

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_N4NYE4UM3Z4KCLKWRZXUJDYSGY Henry Bailey

    I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, LiveCent.com

  • Steve Lee

    BGR please STFU with what analyst said…. analyst said this said that …..
    Give us some FACT not a personal opinion but some retarded analyst !
    Sick of reading about what analyst said.
    I would back track everything about what analyst said and smack that $hit right on your face BGR.

    • Steve Lee

      I think BGR is doing to get more click from FANBOYS fighting about whats better. Getting really sick of this.

      • Bringit

        Or to get people to post and then

      • Bringit

        reply to their own post.  Sick of it!

      • Steve Lee

        I dont know if you work for BGR or you are “the analyst”, or you just like to argue with other people who did not mean any harm to you.
        Maybe you just like to argue looking at your user name

      • Bringit

        More click is the goal of all.  I just bought some more click at the store.  Lots of more click.  Rhymes with sick.  You dick.

  • Booboolala2000

    This would not affect samsung at all. There are companies lined up and on waiting lists for their services. What a joke.

    • Anonymous

      Lol yeah let’s see samsung fill the hole left when apple switches. If samsung was doing so well why did they lose money with their display business? According to u theres companies lined up around the block trying to buy samsung parts. Hmmmm either samsung is selling parts at a loss or someone (you) is a fucking idiot. I vote for the later. True story ™©®

  • Anonymous

    Good.  They will have more resources available for some killer Windows Phones, upcoming Windows 8 tablets, and of coarse some Android stuff too ;p

  • David

    I’m so sick of Apple, of Apple news, and of Steve Jobs.  I wish it would all go away.   I’d be fine w/o Apple products.   Seriously.   I’m not a hipster, or a lemming.

    • Mac

      And we are sick of you and wish you would go away you stupid mother fucking troll.

  • http://www.facebook.com/deandre.n.ruffin DeAndre

    Samsung’s processors are top of the line.  Apple would be foolish to do such a thing.

    • Steve Lee

      The real question I like to ask is what would Samsung do ?

    • Anonymous

      What’s funny is that u don’t know apple designed the A4 and A5 chips. They are paying samsung to manufacture them. Apple owns the design and can get anyone they want to build them.  true story™©®

  • Anonymous

    Is it supposed to be a news? Just another speculation on this matter from yet another “analyst”. But hey, it have word “Apple” in it, BGR surely had to publish it.

  • Anonymous

    It is painfully obvious that the only intelligent people on BGR are myself, bringit and goofan.  true story™©®

    • Anonymous

      You’re a queer, you iPhag.  true story™©®

  • Italiankid

    And Apple could get shit products from other companies and the reputation for Apple could suffer even more than Samsung.

    Samsung should ditch Apple… and let Apple scramble for parts and hopefully they are all defective and cheap…. lol

  • Anonymous

    There goes the Super AMOLED plus Retina Display I was hoping for the next generations of iPhones… 

  • Anonymous

    LOL well done BGR’ers you’ve successfully created the most hilarious thread of comments I’ve ever seen on a tech news website… Well done… full of lulz. 

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