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TriQuint, RFMD each contribute to Apple's new iPhones [The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.]
[September 19, 2014]

TriQuint, RFMD each contribute to Apple's new iPhones [The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.]


(Oregonian (Portland, OR) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 19--Even before Apple's newest iPhones are on sale in Portland, the repair specialists at iFixit have purchased the new models in other time zones and ripped them apart to see what's inside.



And once again, Apple's newest models have components from Hillsboro-based TriQuint Semiconductor and its merger partner, North Carolina-based RF Micro Devices. Both make computer chips for wireless communications.

That's no surprise: TriQuint has been in each of the last several iPhone models, and Apple contractor Foxconn is the Oregon company's biggest customer, accounting for nearly a third of its revenue. Sales forecasts issued earlier this year made it clear that TriQuint would be in this model, too.


The early teardowns from iFixit found a TriQuint power amplifier for older, 3G/EDGE wireless networks inside the iPhone 6 Plus. The power amplifiers boost signal strength. RFMD has an antenna switch module in the same phone and in the regular iPhone 6. (iFixit didn't specifically identify TriQuint parts in the regular iPhone 6, but the wireless components in each phone are very likely similar.) However, analysts reviewing the teardown rated TriQuint and RFMD's rivals as big winners in Apple's new designs. Sterne Agee analysts say NXP Semiconductors, Skyworks and Avago have increased the content in the new phones by 30 to 90 percent.

TriQuint shares were down 2 percent in early trading Friday; RFMD was down 1.2 percent.

TriQuint and RFMD announced in February that they plan to combine the companies, an all-stock deal now worth about $7 billion. That makes it the largest deal in the history of Oregon tech.

The companies announced Thursday they will call their combined business Qorvo. They expect to close their deal later this year.

-- Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; 503-294-7699 ___ (c)2014 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) at www.oregonian.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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