Apple in talks to buy Japan chip venture to secure iPhone supply chain

[Wireless News]

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/cPtG0zZNrHfHj8QXMa0IoQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9NzU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2014-04-02T191410Z_7_CBREA310GAK00_RTROPTP_2_APPLE-RENESAS-OFFER.JPG (http://news.yahoo.com/renesas-talks-apple-others-sale-display-chip-unit-055144515--sector.html)By Reiji Murai TOKYO (Reuters) - Apple Inc, seeking to secure its mobile supply chain, has opened discussions to buy control of a Japanese venture that makes key microchips for its iPhone screens, sources familiar with the matter say. The talks on what would be a rare acquisition in Japan for the U.S. technology giant come as competition heats up in the smartphone industry, with pressure to produce larger, sharper and less battery-draining screens. Apple's once undisputed command of the global mobile electronics supply chain has diminished in past years as Samsung Electronics Co and other manufacturers that make smartphones powered by Google Inc's Android began to dominate the market. That makes the advanced chips made by the Renesas Electronics Corp division all the more valuable in future.



More... (http://news.yahoo.com/renesas-talks-apple-others-sale-display-chip-unit-055144515--sector.html)