Apple's partnership with GT Advanced Technologies was a marriage that seemed to have been made in tech heaven. Apple, consumer of a quarter of the world's sapphire just for the iPhone's camera lens and Touch ID fingerprint cover, wanted more of the scratch resistant material to cover its smartphones and GTAT wanted to grow and transition away from the money-losing solar panel business. Tempted, GTAT signed a deal with Apple and eventually found itself bankrupt, dishing the dirty laundry of the supplier relationship with Apple in the process.
We've reported about the bankruptcy saga and the claims made by both companies before, and now the Wall Street Journal has a detailed account of what happened.
Then came the early-morning Oct. 6 call, when GT chief Mr. Gutierrez told Apple that his company had sought bankruptcy protection. The people close to GT's operations said executives hadn't told Apple about the bankruptcy plan because they feared Apple would try to thwart them.
The story is a good summary of what happened if you're interested in the deal and Apple's plans to coat its iPhone displays using sapphire:
When a boule was suitable, GT used a diamond saw to carve 14-inch thick bricks in the shape of Apple's two new phones: the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Those bricks would be sliced lengthwise to make screens.
Apple is now on its next mission: repurposing the GT Advanced facilities.
Source: WSJ
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