Apple Scales Back Samsung Memory Orders, Changes Suppliers

· by · News

Apple looks to be distancing itself even more from Samsung by looking to Japan-based suppliers for its DRAM and NAND flash memory needs. Apple and Samsung have been locked in legal battles for months over claims they are infringing on each other’s patents.

Apparently Apple is sourcing the memory it needs for devices such as the iPhone, iPad and MacBook Air from Toshiba and Elpida Memory, according to DigiTimes.

Samsung loses Apple memory chip dealApple shuns Samsung for memory purchases

Apple and Samsung have been locked in a legal battle over patent infringement claims for several months. Both companies have alleged that the other’s mobile devices use patented technologies without proper licensing, and have filed lawsuits against each other in the U.S. and other countries.

A German court recently upheld an injunction blocking the sale of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in the country, and the company filed an appeal in hopes of overturning that ruling.

Apple was also awarded a temporary injunction through a Dutch court blocking the sale of some Galaxy devices in the European Union, and Samsung has agreed to postpone sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in Australia until the end of September.

Samsung apparently also lost Apple’s custom chip fabrication to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. If so, that will be a big blow to Samsung since it had planned on dramatically ramping up its chip production to meet Apple’s needs.

Jeff Gamet

Jeff Gamet

Jeff is the Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and co-host of the Apple Context Machine podcast. He is the author of "The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X" from Peachpit Press, and writes for several design-related publications. Jeff has presented at events such as Macworld Expo, the RSA Conference, and the Mac Computer Expo. In all his spare time, he also co-hosts the We Have Communicators podcast, and makes guest appearances on several other podcasts, too. Jeff dreams in HD.

Sign Up for the Newsletter

Enter a valid email address

Join the TMO Express Daily Newsletter to get the latest Mac headlines in your e-mail every weekday.

Adding to list…

4 Comments

geoduck

Apple looks to be distancing itself even more from Samsung by looking to Japan-based suppliers for its DRAM and NAND flash memory needs

This is a bit of good news for Japan when they sorely need some. I wonder where the actual fab will be though.

furbies

Apple looks to be distancing itself even more from Samsung by looking to Japan-based suppliers for its DRAM and NAND flash memory needs

This is a bit of good news for Japan when they sorely need some. I wonder where the actual fab will be though.

Let me offer a suggestion:

Don’t place it near the ocean or near a nuclear power plant!

But the real moral of the story is: “Don’t Mess With The Apple”

Jake B

Or possibly:  don’t act as a supplier to Apple, then use your inside information to sell knock-offs of their product.

daemon

Or possibly:  don?t act as a supplier to Apple, then use your inside information to sell knock-offs of their product.

It’s like you don’t know what a knock-off is….

It’s not unusual in China to have a “day shift” run and produce legitmate products and then have a “night shift” that produces “knock-offs” all using the same manufacturing technique and materials. What’s the difference between the two?

Add your comment

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?