Sharp may supply Apple iPad 3 LCDs, already supplying iPhone shows
Sharp has long been rumored to be a runner up as a major display supplier for Apple and now new studies suggest that the company has successfully won the bid and has already been supplying screens for Apple’s iPhones. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the WSJ reveals that Sharp shall be supplying Apple’s subsequent-gen iPads with LCD screens which are manufactured at Sharp’s Kameyama No. 2 plant in central Japan.
The supply additionally claims that the Apple is investing in Sharp’s Japanese manufacturing facilities. Although no investment figure was divulged, we’ve heard rumors from analysts beforehand that Apple planned to invest $1 billion. The transfer is a part of Apple’s efforts to work with multiple component makers to ensure adequate supply of parts for its iPhones and iPads.
The supply additional claims that Apple already makes use of Sharp displays in its iPhones and plans to additionally use Sharp shows for its subsequent-gen iPhone that’s due out sometime next year. LG and Samsung were mentioned to provide the displays for Apple’s iPad 2, with a supply bottleneck earlier this 12 months that was rumored to be the result of some defective light leaking displays from LG, though these stories have not been confirmed.
Shifting screens supply to Sharp will assist ease off reliance on LG and particularly Samsung, which is presently locked in a number of patent battles with Apple throughout a number of continents. Sharp can also be mentioned to be supplying Apple’s rumored iTV for 2012.
