Despite a stack of lawsuits between Samsung and Apple that seems to grow by the day, Samsung is the lone display supplier for Apple’s new iPad that goes on sale March 16th. Samsung became the only supplier after LG and Sharp couldn’t meet Apple’s rigid quality requirements.
From Bloomberg:
The supply deal deepens Apple’s partnership with Samsung, which already makes the chips that power the iPhone and iPad, even as the companies sue each other around the world regarding patents. Apple unveiled a new version of the iPad last week that features a sharper display and faster processor to fend off growing competition from products including Samsung’s Galaxy Tab.
Steve Park, a Seoul-based spokesman for Apple; Jason Kim, a spokesman for Samsung; Claire Ohm, a Seoul-based spokeswoman for LG Display; and Miyuki Nakayama, a spokeswoman for Osaka, Japan- based Sharp, declined to comment.
“The display specifications on the new iPad are very demanding in terms of the very high resolution,” said Vinita Jakhanwal, a senior manager at iSuppli, in an e-mail. “Achieving this high resolution without compromising on the power consumption and brightness and maintaining Apple’s quality standards are supposedly proving to be a challenge for LG Display and Sharp.”
Apple and Samsung have been locked in heated legal battles over patents concerning mobile technology and designs since April.
Apple may want to diversify its sources for the displays because of the lawsuits with Samsung, said Kang Yoon Hum, a Seoul-based analyst at NH Investment & Securities Co.
“Since the relationship between Apple and Samsung isn’t great these days, Apple would want to get shipments elsewhere as well,” Kang said by phone.
