The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
  • Economic Essay Contest
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Sun, January 17, 2021 | 11:51
IT
Samsung strikes chip deal with Apple
Posted : 2014-11-17 16:19
Updated : 2014-11-17 16:21
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Chip giant partners with GlobalFoundries to fabricate Apple chips

By Kim Yoo-chul

Samsung Electronics agreed with Apple to produce application processors (APs) from next year for iPhones and iPads, sources said Monday.

The agreement means Samsung will become a primary supplier of APs to Apple, pushing its chief Taiwanese rival TSMC back to second place.

From 2016, the company will supply 80 percent of APs used in Apple devices, and TSMC the remainder.

Unlike conventional memory chips such as DRAMs and NANDs, APs are categorized as logic chips which give producers much higher margins.

AP chips function as the brain in computing devices. Apple will design its A-series APs, and Samsung will fabricate them in partnership with GlobalFoundries (GF), a semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif.

"Apple has designated Samsung as the primary supplier of its next A-series chips powering iOS devices from 2016 as the alliance with GlobalFoundries (GF) enabled Samsung to cut off capacity risk," a source familiar with the deal said.

The value of the deal is said to be worth "billions of dollars," according to the sources.

Production of the APs will start early next year at Samsung's local factory in Giheung, Gyeonggi Province, and the volume will grow as Samsung plans to use its facilities in Austin, Texas and the GF-owned factory in New York for increased output, another source said.

The resumption of business with Apple comes a month after the two companies agreed to drop all patent litigation outside the United States.

Samsung declined to comment about updates of its patent fight with Apple on the latter's home-turf. Apple previously asked TSMC to make APs being used in the iPhone 6.

From a technology standpoint, Samsung has made a smoother transition to manufacturing customized chips by using a finer 14-nanometer FinFET processing technology, and the collaboration with GF lowered costs.

TSMC will ramp up production of chips using 16-nnometer FinFET technology.

Samsung's technology is better in terms of efficiency and energy consumption.

At Samsung's most recent earnings call, officials said that it is producing sample 14-nanometer chips for an unidentified customer.

They said that the firm will start mass producing the wafers for the chips either at the end of the year or early 2016.

"Samsung's logic chip business division will get the S3 line equipment back from the memory business. The year 2015 will have a half-year contribution, while 2016 should have a full year contribution from 14nm for external customers," said Bernstein Research in a note to clients.

IM Investment, a local brokerage, expects Samsung to win more orders to fabricate customized chips from Qualcomm, Nvidia and Sony, helping it generate more revenue to make up for its struggling smartphone business.

Samsung Electronics is shifting its focus to logic chips amid the rise of budget smartphones.

"Samsung has so far proved its capability in memory chips. Corporate clients were reluctant to depend on Samsung for logic chips. But the partnership with GF will allow Samsung to win more orders to fabricate customized chips," said an industry official.

Samsung Electronics President Kim Ki-nam recently said the firm's logic chip division will bolster its profits next year.


Emailyckim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
WooriBank
 
  • Korea eases restrictions on cafes, gyms
  • Uniqlo makes rebound after closing unprofitable stores
  • New virus cases in 500s for 5th day as gov't announces eased restrictions
  • Bangladeshi embassy opens 2021 with series of events
  • Deepfake technology in music welcomed, with caution
  • Establishing laws not panacea for solving social issues
  • Trump to leave Washington on morning of Biden's inauguration
  • Tenbagger companies' resurgence in stock markets
  • Pompeo pushes new claim of China covering up COVID origin
  • End of Merkel era begins as German CDU picks new party leader
  • Ex-BIGBANG member Seungri indicted for mobilizing gang members to threaten people Ex-BIGBANG member Seungri indicted for mobilizing gang members to threaten people
  • Film 'Minari' to hit local theaters in March Film 'Minari' to hit local theaters in March
  • BLACKPINK's Jennie gets 600 million YouTube views with debut single 'Solo' BLACKPINK's Jennie gets 600 million YouTube views with debut single 'Solo'
  • K-pop star IU to drop new single 'Celebrity' this month K-pop star IU to drop new single 'Celebrity' this month
  • iKON's Bobby to make solo comeback iKON's Bobby to make solo comeback
DARKROOM
  • Second Trump impeachment [PHOTOS]

    Second Trump impeachment [PHOTOS]

  • Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

    Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

  • Our children deserve better (Part 2)

    Our children deserve better (Part 2)

  • Migrants hard hit by COVID-19: UN migration agency

    Migrants hard hit by COVID-19: UN migration agency

  • Happy New Year 2021

    Happy New Year 2021

WooriBank
  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright