TSMC: Apple Chipset Suppliers Close Factory Due to Viruses

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) was forced to close a number of factories because it was attacked by a computer virus. They say there is a virus that attacks a number of equipment in the factory. The virus attack has a different level of damage in each existing equipment. Some of the equipment can be re-operated, but there are also some that still need to be turned off. According to TSMC, the possibility of a virus attack is not caused by hackers.

"TSMC had previously been attacked by a virus, but this time the virus attack had an impact on the production line," said Lora Ho CFO TSMC.

The Taiwanese company did not disclose whether the virus attack had an impact on the processor production line used by Apple, or other TSMC chip users. They also have not revealed the amount of losses due to the attack.

For information, TSMC is the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the world, and they are a component supplier for many large companies. Among others, AMD, Apple, Nvidia and Qualcomm.

The virus attack at the TSMC factory also appeared at a critical time, because many technology companies were working on their newest generation products. For example, this May TSMC started production of the Apple A12 chip which will be used on this 2018 brand-new iPhone.

Next Generation iPhone Possible Without a Chip from Qualcomm

In the midst of an increasingly intense legal battle with Qualcomm, Apple is designing iPhone and iPad without chipsets made by Qualcomm, as reported from the pages of The Wall Street Journal. Instead, Apple is eyeing modem chips from Intel and MediaTek in lieu of Qualcomm. They added that Qualcomm has withheld software for testing in Apple's flagship prototype device, which is likely to further damage the relationship between the two companies.

This is because, Apple disputes about royalty payments. The relationship between Qualcomm and Apple is said to have suffered a rift.

From Engadget sources, after Apple confirmed, now Qualcomm provides related information, George Davis, Qualcomm CFO in a teleconference after the announcement of the latest financial report revealed, Apple intends to only use (chip) modems from competitors without modems from Qualcomm, on the next iPhone which is most likely to use products from Intel.

According to information, Intel will be the exclusive supplier for the iPhone line because it is able to meet the technical requirements requested by Apple and offer more competitive prices. Intel's network chips are expected to also support dual SIM and dual standby although there is no concrete evidence that future generations of iPhone will support these features.