‘Smack talk’ is usually a notion reserved for fighters at a weigh in before a boxing match, but not something typically spouted by one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world. Unusual then, that when speaking about Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 5, Hon Hai’s chairman Terry Gou stated “the new model will put Samsung’s Galaxy III to shame.”
If you’re not familiar with Hon Hai, you may better know the company’s operation under the Foxconn brand. Based in China, it’s one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world and the go-to producer of iPhones, iPads and other iDevices.
Mr Gou has a particular distaste for the Korean manufacturer and as quoted by the China Times, once stated that he has a lifetime goal of defeating Samsung, no easy feat with the size and capabilities of such a company. Mr Gou stated that Samsung was “a company with a track record of snitching on its competitors,” (this in reference to Samsung’s allegations of flat panel price fixing by four Taiwanese competitors).
In recent months, Hon Hai hasn’t just been focusing on production of the iPhone 5, but in fact are responsible for producing Microsoft’s recently unveiled Surface tablets. A special partnership has also been struck up with tough-glass manufacturer Corning providing Hon Hai with apparent exclusive access to specific materials. Mr Goh explained that, “his competitors will not be able to secure any such material even if they wished to.”
Aside from playing his cards close to his chest and leaving his personal opinions very much out in the open, the company’s chairman wants “consumers to wait for the launch of the iPhone 5,” as he genuinely expects the Samsung Galaxy S3 to be blown out the water. We’ll have to wait a few more months to see if he’s right.
Pic credit: 9to5Mac
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