Has Apple Inc. (AAPL) Turned to This Rival For Help?

The fact that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is facing strong competition in the smartphone and tablet markets is no surprise. Other companies have had success as of late, and they are hoping for more of the same moving forward.

With this in mind, it may surprise many to find that Apple may be turning to Samsung, once again, for assistance with an upcoming product. While this may not make sense due to the competition between the companies for supremacy in these markets, Cupertino is going to do whatever it takes to make their product the best. And in this case, that may mean turning to Samsung for manufacturing assistance.

Here is the rumor: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is in need of thin glass to be used for its iPhone, iPad, and MacBook devices. For this reason, the company has been rumored to once again be turning to Samsung’s Display Division for assistance. This is somewhat of a surprise, as it is thought by most that Cupertino will eventually attempt to cut Samsung out of its operation altogether.

This rumor comes from etnews.com, and is full of tidbits that may have you scratching your head.

Here is a brief excerpt from the piece:

“The Korean thin glass market is turning around thanks to Apple resuming its LCD purchase from Samsung Display. The thin glass companies showed a clear sign of turn-around in the second quarter. The thin glass sales of four major companies, Soulbrain, Chemtronics, Global Display, and Avatec, this year is expected to reach KRW 534 billion, which is about 34% greater, year-on-year. When compared to the sales in 2011, the year when the thin glass process was introduced in full force, the sales grew by whopping 134%.”

There is no denying the fact that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung are out in front in terms of the thin glass industry. Cupertino has relied on this for both its iPhone and iPad, as well as its MacBook lineup. Along with this, Samsung uses the glass in its Galaxy S series.

The real surprise is that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is getting involved with Samsung, once again. While it makes sense for the company to be moving further away from its main rival in the smartphone industry, if this rumor is true the two companies are actually getting closer. What sense does that make?

Here is a final thought from the piece: