iPhone flash memory plans abandoned after US government imposes export controls - 9to5Mac

Plans by Apple to bargain up to 40% of iPhone flash representation chips from Chinese institution YMTC person reportedly been abandoned aft the US authorities imposed export controls connected the chipmaker.

It’s reported that the Cupertino institution had a two-step program for purchasing representation chips from the Chinese institution Yangtze Memory Technologies Co …

iPhone flash representation plans

iPhone flash retention chips are 1 of the ways successful which Apple achieves its enviable margins, the institution typically charging $100 for each measurement up successful capacity.

Apple presently buys a precocious proportionality of these chips from 2 Japanese companies, Western Digital and Kioxia, with further supplies from Samsung and SK Hynix. It was reported backmost successful March that Apple planned to adhd a Chinese supplier to the list, for the archetypal clip ever.

The iPhone shaper is present investigating illustration NAND flash representation chips made by Hubei-based Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., [sources] said, asking not to beryllium identified discussing backstage deliberations. Apple’s been discussing the tie-up with Yangtze, owned by Beijing-backed chipmaking champion Tsinghua Unigroup Co., for months though nary last decisions person been made.

Some considered this a arguable program astatine the time, not lone expanding alternatively than decreasing Apple’s dependence connected China, but besides coming astatine a clip erstwhile the US medication was unhappy with China’s ambiguous stance connected the Russian penetration of Ukraine. Unlike astir countries, China had not condemned the penetration and occupation, and the state did not frost assets oregon enforce sanctions banning the import of Russian products.

Chinese acquisition plans connected hold

Nikkei has a small much item connected Apple’s plans, which it says person present been placed connected hold.

It says the archetypal measurement would person been to usage YMTC flash retention chips for each iPhones destined for the Chinese market, portion a longer-term program would person seen Apple bargain capable of the chips for 40% of planetary iPhone production. It reports that these plans person present been frozen.

Apple has enactment connected clasp plans to usage representation chips from China’s Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) successful its products, aggregate sources told Nikkei Asia.

The determination comes amid the latest circular of U.S. export controls imposed against the Chinese tech assemblage and is simply a motion that Washington’s crackdown is creating a chilling effect down the proviso chain.

Earlier this month, the US authorities added YMTC to a database of “unverified” Chinese companies, meaning that US officials person been incapable to transportation retired checks to guarantee that the chipmaker is not supplying Huawei. The Chinese telecoms company’s products person been banned successful the US aft spy-chip allegations.

The US restrictions besides mean that American companies cannot merchantability immoderate instrumentality to YMTC.

Photo: Louis Reed/Unsplash

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