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TSMC's 'Rush Orders' Presumably Fueling Broadcom Part Supplies for iPhone 5

Thursday September 15, 2011 7:25 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Bloomberg reports that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has announced a spike in third quarter sales fueled by recent "rush orders", with industry experts suggesting that the demand is almost certainly coming from Broadcom as it fills orders for components of Apple's iPhone 5.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Broadcom’s biggest supplier, last week said third-quarter sales would exceed earlier forecasts because of rush orders from an unnamed customer. Other large Taiwan Semiconductor clients have disclosed disappointing results, suggesting that the customer was probably Broadcom, rushing to meet demand from Apple, according to a supply-chain analysis by Bloomberg.

“Broadcom is the largest link between Apple and Taiwan Semiconductor,” said Richard Davenport, a Bloomberg supply chain analyst, in a report. “Broadcom appears to be a likely candidate for Taiwan Semiconductor’s rush orders.”

Broadcom has historically provided the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip for Apple's iPhone products. It also provides a GPS chip for the GSM iPhone 4, but the need for that chip was eliminated in the CDMA iPhone 4, where the MDM6600 baseband chip from Qualcomm provides integrated GPS control circuitry.

The report notes that these rush orders for the parts presumed to be for Broadcom and Apple indicate that manufacturers are trying to make up for shortages of an existing component in the supply chain rather rolling out a new part. One analyst reasons that Broadcom should have anticipated the demand for its chips for the iPhone 5 and thus the rush order may not be for Apple, but it is possible that Apple is still seeking to boost production of the device as it anticipates strong early sales.
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Tones2
9 months ago
If Apple is projecting "early strong sales" that are greater than normal initial iPhone sales, they better give us at least a 4" screen and / or 64 GB, or they'll be in for a big disappointment. There's not gonna be a lot of current iPhone 4 users jumping on the bandwagon for just a slightly faster phone with a slightly better camera.

Tony
Rating: 10 Positives / 1 Negatives
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spazzcat
9 months ago
This is getting crazy even for Apple. Apple just tell us already...
Rating: 7 Positives / 0 Negatives
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TWSS37
9 months ago
omgomgomgomg!!

Credit card ready.
Rating: 5 Positives / 0 Negatives
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Sedrick
9 months ago
is that an.... iPhone 5 in my toast....?
Rating: 4 Positives / 0 Negatives
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Tones2
9 months ago

Jeebus, next we'll be seeing imprints of the iPhone 5 on tacos in Mexico. Apple has to love the myth-like hype that their warmed over iPhone 4 is getting. Man the joke will be on us.


Mmmm....Apple tacos.....:D
Rating: 3 Positives / 0 Negatives
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newyorksole
9 months ago
As long as it has 64GB or a bigger screen I'll be happy.

I already know iOS5 will be amazing, the design will be nice, it'll be faster and iCloud will be amazing too.

So everything else is just +++
Rating: 3 Positives / 0 Negatives
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fifthworld
9 months ago
If Apple doesn't come up with a substantially redesigned iPhone I will definetly get a life.
Rating: 3 Positives / 1 Negatives
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ChrisTX
9 months ago

And there's a lot of people who thinks the same... Hopefully there's gonna be a bigger change than the chip and the camera. :D


I will be truly bummed if apple took an extra 3-4 months longer to release the iPhone if it's just a 4[S].
Rating: 2 Positives / 0 Negatives
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Ciwan
9 months ago

Don't get me wrong. The GSII is a VERY NICE and VERY capable device. It was not so much an iPhone vs. Galaxy S II issue as it was was an iOS vs. Android issue.

iOS just has the APPS! Android Market is weak in comparison. I am also a big media consumer. Music, podcasts, etc. iOS and iTunes integration just handles it all better. iPhoto integration. iMovie... Gaming... There is probably a 20:1 ratio of available games from iOS to Android.

Oh... and Apple wipes the floor with everyone when it comes to battery life.

And iPhone has TONS more accessories and cases available for it. The benefit of making 1 version of the iPhone at a time.

Believe me... I have tried MANY times to switch to Android. I ALWAYS come back.

If I were going to stick with Android, Galaxy S II would be my choice.


Hmm interesting .. we'll wait and see what the iPhone 4S/5 is like .. and I'll take it from there.

Damn I'm so excited, that my sleep has messed up !!!!

When I got to be before, It would take me about 15 minutes to get into sleep mode. Now .. with the iPhone 4S/5 .. it takes me at least 45 minutes to get into sleep mode. I just keep thinking about it !!

am I weird ? or are there loads of people like me ! lol
Rating: 1 Positives / 0 Negatives
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1080p
9 months ago

For real ? .. why ? :confused:


Don't get me wrong. The GSII is a VERY NICE and VERY capable device. It was not so much an iPhone vs. Galaxy S II issue as it was was an iOS vs. Android issue.

iOS just has the APPS! Android Market is weak in comparison. I am also a big media consumer. Music, podcasts, etc. iOS and iTunes integration just handles it all better. iPhoto integration. iMovie... Gaming... There is probably a 20:1 ratio of available games from iOS to Android.

Oh... and Apple wipes the floor with everyone when it comes to battery life.

And iPhone has TONS more accessories and cases available for it. The benefit of making 1 version of the iPhone at a time.

Believe me... I have tried MANY times to switch to Android. I ALWAYS come back.

If I were going to stick with Android, Galaxy S II would be my choice.
Rating: 1 Positives / 0 Negatives

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