Apple’s next-generation A6 processor, expected to arrive in future versions of the iPad and iPhone, is said to have gone into trial production ahead of a launch expected in the first half of 2012 and TSMC again tipped to be in trial production of the new ARM-based silicon. TSMC was said to be testing its 28nm processes on the A6 with Apple basing its eventual order decisions on what yield the manufacturer could achieve and TSMC has declined to comment on the Apple speculation, though has said that it expects its order book to look healthier in Q4 as customer inventory dwindles. And people who are hoping for a surprise iPad 3 coming in the next few months, you will probably be waiting a little longer…………..
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC), the world’s largest semiconductor foundry by market shares now has allegedly started trial production of the A6 processor in cooperation with Apple Inc., with the production design to be taped out in the first quarter of next year and scheduled to be publicly unveiled in the second quarter at the earliest. TSMC has applied its newest 28-nanometer process and 3D stacking technologies to produce the next-generation processor A6, which is based on the ARM architecture and will undergo TSMC’s cutting-edge silicon interposer and bump on trace (BOT) methodologies. Industry insiders said that the manufacturing will help to pump considerable momentum into TSMC’s business growth starting next year, though the company has yet to comment on the deal for the moment. TSMC has been capable of handling processor production for Apple, but didn’t build the business ties with the customer in the past due mainly to limited production lines, which were almost fully booked by existing customers, including Nvidia and Qualcomm. But, the industry has been experiencing a depression, making TSMC stand the chance to collaborate with Apple on processor production this year. TSMC has projected its combined revenue for the third quarter of this year to drop 6-8% to between NT$102 billion and NT$104 billion from the second quarter, with the gross profit rate of 40.5-42.5%, despite a booming season for the industry. Nevertheless, the company stressed that its business operations will turn around in the fourth quarter when customer inventories are reduced.
Source – Image Credit – Benm.at
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