The Apple Incorporated in Seoul/ Taipei has disheartened many users and consumers for not putting the glass covers on its new iPhone although scratch-resistant material made its way into mobile services.
In November, Apple with US based GT Advanced Technologies Inc., a mineral crystal specialist has been in speculation rife of Tuesday’s unveiling of the iPhone 6 to have extra protection of some models after Apple was partnered.
Apple has concluded that sapphire glass is used on its first smart watch and it also continues to utilize durable material to cover the iPhone’s camera lens and home button. But this gave no clue or when the glass would be use on iPhone screens.
Last week, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. in China has evolved to be the first major handset maker to proclaim the usage of sapphire screen covers, and would hopefully release a limited edition version of its high-end phone with such protection.
Nonetheless, sappire is known to be the second hardest material in nature next to diamond which is used in LED lighting, high-end jewelry and military equipment like in submarine and rocket windows.
Also, the most wanted new iPhone 6 design is made out of sapphire and sensitive to touch not like other screen protectors according to a recent survey by used phone market place.
US based Rubicon Technology and South Korea’s Sapphire Technology is the two world’s largest supplier of raw sapphire glass has connection to some Asian handset makers.
William Weissman, chief financial officer of Rubicon said that all Smartphone manufacturers have been meeting with all major sapphire producers including Rubicon.
Also, JP Morgan is expecting the adoption of sapphire faceplates for smart phones to rise several time next year from a very low base.
Moreover, Rubicon and Sapphire Technology Companies trades’ large chunks of glass to fabricators that slices into thin water before polishing it.
But Due to high prices and defect rates, analysts conclude that the sapphire glass will be limited initially to premium products.
The Gorilla glass costs less than $10 compared to sapphire covers that cost as much as $40-$50, this was according to analysts.
Xaiomi Inc., a Chinese company has enjoined some sapphire covers for a limited edition premium smartphone however; the company has drooped to annotate.
Qianhao Lv, global marketing director of ZTE’z mobile business group affirmed that it’s not appropriate for large scale use because the sapphire supply chain remains complicated, the volume is not high and production capacity is insufficient.
Also, LG Electronics Incorporated spokesman Ken Hong stated that South Korean company has been looking at sapphire screen protection but did not presume was ready.
However, Sapphire industry is struggling with decreasing prices due to weak demand from the LED lighting sector, the biggest driver of sapphire consumption.
Hsu Ya-ling, chief financial officer at Tera Xtal Technology, a fabricator based in Taiwan, remarked that the major reason for the high cost is that sapphire has just begun to catch on so the defect-free rate is not very stable, but recently players have been putting a lot of effort into solving this problem.
Furthermore, Rubicon is now working on hybrid solutions that would provide many benefits of sapphire, as told by Weissman; including a couple of processes to eradicate the slicing and polishing steps.
To allow more smartphone faceplate cuts than bar-type boules, Sapphire Technology constructed a boule in rectangular shape. references: abs-cbnnews com
