A strategic move to bolster its ties with Apple
Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn, known for being Apple’s main assembler for their iPhones, has officially taken over Japanese brand Sharp. The deal is rumored to have been to the tune of 700 billion yen, or around $6.2 billion.
While the deal could theoretically put the Taiwanese brand in a position to release its own hardware under Sharp’s brand, the Taiwanese outfit may have acquired the iconic brand to further solidify its status with Apple. The Cupertino company is expected to adopt OLED displays by 2018, displays that Sharp will be mass producing at the same time. This move will give Foxconn an edge over Apple’s other suppliers which include fellow smartphone rival Samsung. Sharp is one of the biggest suppliers of screens for tablets and phones in the world.
