It's not just about the Apple vs. Samsung war when it comes to smartphones and tablets. The companies that make parts for the inside of smartphones and tablets are engaged in a battle too.
Shares of Broadcom (BRCM), one of the leading makers of chips that wirelessly connect mobile devices like Apple's (AAPL) iPhones and iPads and Samsung's (SSNLF) Galaxy to the Internet, have fallen sharply this year amid growing worries that its customers will turn to rival Qualcomm (QCOM) for those chips. There are concerns Apple and Samsung could also start making their own chips.
Broadcom's stock plunged sharply in July, after the company reported lackluster results for its wireless chip unit and warned that revenue would be stagnant in the third quarter.
But Broadcom looks to be making at least some progress in winning back investors' trust. Shares have recovered from their lows as Broadcom has stepped into the market for chips that connect devices to cellular networks, an area that Qualcomm currently dominates. Broadcom recently announced that Samsung is officially a customer for its cellular chips for LTE connections. --H.Y.
