The rift between Apple and partner supplier Imagination Technologies has continued to widen. The chip manufacturer has struggled ever since Apple announced its desire to part ways. As of the latest though, amid Apple's silence, Imagination Technologies chief executive has announced that it is still in talks with potential buyers.
Imagination Technologies chief executive Andrew Heath told Reuters on Tuesday that Apple has remained silent until now despite it announcing earlier in May that it might pursue a dispute resolution procedure. This decision came after Apple expressed its intent to part ways with the chip supplier in 15 months to two years' time. Apple revealed that it is planning to establish its own graphics manufacturing unit in the given timetable.
Heath said the dispute between his company and Tim Cook's has not made any progress recently. The Kings Langley, United Kingdom conglomerate has been put up for sale since last month, two months after its shares plunged by 70 percent when Apple announced its intent in April. Apple is the biggest customer of Imagination Technologies which is believed to be the source of 50 percent of its annual revenue.
The chief is currently in talks with potential buyers. Heath revealed that Imagination Technologies has returned to profitability until April, but it still struggles to find it grounds after Apple dumped them.
"Apple's unsubstantiated assertions and the resultant dispute have forced us to change our course," says Heath, "despite the clear progress we have been making."
In May, Imagination Technologies released a report detailing the current state of its partnership with Apple, saying it was still in dispute. In the report, the chipmaker asserted that it is impossible for Apple to produce its own graphics processor units for its products without ever violating Imagination's patents, intellectual property, and confidential information.
Until now, Apple has not provided evidence if it is indeed capable of constructing "separate, independent graphics design".
