Reuters exclusive on Taiwan trials of new Apple chip

Reuters reported exclusively on July 15 that TSMC, the world`s top contract chip maker, was making next-generation chips for Apple on a trial basis, a move that could indicate Apple was looking to switch away from its traditional main supplier Samsung. The scoop was a result of patient detective work by Reuters Taiwan reporters working on the fringes of two companies notorious for their secrecy. The Reuters story was picked up by all the major Apple news websites, while Bloomberg alerted the news with full credit to Reuters some 30 minutes after our first alert. Dow Jones picked up the story, citing Reuters. A TSMC official called to politely ask how we had got the story, and when we countered by asking him if he could confirm it, he said our reporters ‘had done their homework’. The story was also noted by Credit Suisse in its morning sales note the following Monday.