Apple may end up paying billions to Samsung (SSNGY) for the new iPad.
Apple euphoria is in full swing. Some Apple fans have made their investment far more than an investment; it is a love affair and personal. From the emails I receive it is obvious that the love affair with Apple has turned some fan boys into Samsung haters.
On one level it makes sense because not only Samsung has emerged as the main competitor to Apple, there are bitter legal battles raging between the two across the globe. Samsung is the most successful vendor of Google (GOOG) Android devices.
Lost in the litigation is the fact that Apple and Samsung are “frenemies.” Apple has long been dependent on Samsung for lots of technology. The new iPad is no exception.
iSuppli reports that Samsung is the sole supplier of screens for the new iPad. The new iPad is the first tablet with super high resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels. According to iSuppli, LG and Sharp could not meet Apple’s requirements.
There are also other reports that contradict iSuppli and claim that LG is supplying some panels for the new iPad. There is also a report that Sharp and LG are planning to ramp up production of screens in April.
In any case, if Apple sells 50 million iPads and Samsung ends up supplying screens for only 25 million, it is still quite lucrative for Samsung…Read more at Forbes
