Apple Parts Ways With Engineering Consulting Firm Over Tablet Prototype
The New York Times reports that Apple has parted ways with engineering design firm SurfaceInk, severing a nearly decade-long relationship that saw SurfaceInk assist with the development of several Apple products. The move comes as SurfaceInk has increased the availability of its "Turn-key" services that see it design and build entire products for sale to other companies.
It was that latest part of SurfaceInk's business, which the company began about five years ago, that apparently unsettled Apple. While SurfaceInk had gotten clients mostly through word of mouth, in June it publicized a prototype 12.1-inch tablet during an electronics trade show.
The device was meant to showcase SurfaceInk's design capabilities to potential clients, Mr. Bauswell said. He said that Apple viewed those capabilities as a potential competitive threat.
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Well, I guess that Apple once more lives up to its reputation of being a company that doesn't play well with others. Especially when its a smaller company that can easily be squashed - Apple never "parted ways" with Microsoft who compete with them on so many levels that it's not even funny anymore.
I think the difference here is that this company has a CEO named Eric. Apple does not like companies with CEOs named Eric. :)
I think the difference here is that this company has a CEO named Eric. Apple does not like companies with CEOs named Eric. :)
Funny. =)
how could they design a tablet if it had been SJ's dream for decades and the iPad existed before the iPhone
SurfaceInk, a company founded in 1999, has done engineering design work in the past for clients — and Apple competitors — like Palm and Hewlett-Packard. The company, which has about 50 employees, also has a so-called turnkey business, which creates products and licenses them to other companies.
It was that latest part of SurfaceInk’s business, which the company began about five years ago, that apparently unsettled Apple. While SurfaceInk had gotten clients mostly through word of mouth, in June it publicized a prototype 12.1-inch tablet during an electronics trade show.
The device was meant to showcase SurfaceInk’s design capabilities to potential clients, Mr. Bauswell said. He said that Apple viewed those capabilities as a potential competitive threat.
So, even though they worked with competitors before, only now does Apple cut it's ties. If Apple feels that it had to end it's relationship now, hmm, I wonder how good that prototype design is. Probably the best pitch for SurfaceInk.
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