Broadcom, CSR, Infineon, Marvell, Samsung expected to play in iPhone

By Colleen Taylor -- Electronic News, 1/10/2007

Apple Inc. set off a flurry of speculation after Tuesday's iPhone announcement as to which companies’ technologies would be included in the new device.

Although Apple unveiled the device's features, slated June release and $499 starting price point during a Steve Jobs keynote at MacWorld Expo in San Francisco, it did not disclose what semiconductor suppliers are being used for the product.

But that has not stopped many in the industry from making an educated guess. According to a research note from FBR Research this morning, Broadcom Corp., Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR), Infineon Technologies AG, Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. have won places in the iPhone.

According to FBR, Samsung appears to have won all the processor sockets in both the new video iPod and the iPhone, while Marvell has won the 802.11 content in the iPhone. Infineon will likely provide the baseband, Broadcom will provide the touch screen, and CSR will provide the Bluetooth chip for the device, FBR said.

FBR also said it believes that Apple has inked a deal with a content manufacturer for six million units this year. The unnamed manufacturer is expected to provide an additional three million units if demand proves necessary, the firm added.

Apple -- which this week also changed its name from Apple Computer Inc. to simply Apple Inc. to highlight its continued growth in the larger consumer electronics realm -- could not be reached for comment.

Despite Apple’s lack of semiconductor detail, the company’s stock price has skyrocketed on the iPhone news. After trading at around $85 for the past week, the stock price this morning blew past Apple’s 52-week high of $93.15, trading for as much as $97.50.