According to a report in Bloomberg, Samsung is being lined up to manufacture the A9 processor chips in Apple's next iPhone model.
Apple and Samsung have worked together before, but their relationship was soured by disputes over patents and other issues and the chip-making contract has recently been in the hands of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
While Apple focuses primarily on hardware, Samsung's interests span a broader range of electronics interests, and winning the iPhone contract would be a big boost for its chip business.
"Winning this order from Apple will help the world’s second-largest chipmaker rebound against TSMC, which last year ended Samsung’s monopoly over contracts to make iPhone and iPad chips," Bloomberg reported, adding the semiconductor industry is worth more than $300bn.