Apple Is Negotiating With Samsung About iPhone Storage? What?

The popular all things Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) related blog 9TO5MAC commented on a recent report by Korea Times suggesting that the company is in talks with Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to supply the flash memory for next generation iPhones.Currently, Apple's flash storage is provided by Toshiba, SK Hynix and SanDisk Corporation.According to the publication, the report may suggest that Apple is looking to increase the storage capacity of its mid-tier models. The article continued that the "most logical move" would be to discontinue the 16GB variant and make the 32GB model the new entry-level option.9TO5MAC justified its views by noting that Apple's SVP of Marketing Phil Schiller stated that the company believes the cloud makes up for the lack of storage on lower-end iPhone devices.Apple's relationship with Samsung is complex, and the two firms were described as "best frenemies forever" by Robert Maire of Semiconductor Advisors.With that said, the publication admitted that the Korea Times report should be "taken with a grain of salt" given the publication's history of inaccuracy when it comes to the relationship between the two firms. On the other hand, Apple has opened up to Samsung as it was reported by 9TO5MAC earlier this year that Samsung has agreed to provide A9 chips for future iPhone models.Commenting on the same story, Cult of Mac suggested that Samsung's chip factory in Xian, China is testing the stability and durability of its NAND chip, although no agreement with Apple regarding pricing or shipments has been made public yet."If today's report is true it's definitely bad news for anyone who dreams of a world in which Apple finally ditches Samsung altogether," the Apple related blog stated.