Apple, Intel in talks for chip deal -- report

The companies have reportedly been in discussions for the past year, but so far, haven't come to an agreement.

Apple's A6X processor.

Intel might be trying to line up Apple's chip production, according to a new report.

The companies over the past year have been in talks for Apple to move its mobile chip production from Samsung to Intel, Reuters is reporting today, citing people who have knowledge of their discussions. So far, however, Intel and Apple have been unable to reach an accord.

CNET previously reported that Apple and Intel have been talking about a foundry relationship.

That Apple and Intel have talked boosts a claim made last week to Reuters by Intel custom foundry vice president and general manager Sunit Rikhi that his company is ramping up to take on a major mobile customer. Rikhi declined, however, to say that the customer could be Apple.

Apple has relied on Samsung for years to build its mobile processors. However, as that company's mobile efforts continue to pressure Apple's, the iPhone maker is looking for alternatives. In addition to Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor, among other chip makers, have reportedly been considered by Apple.Reuters' report comes a couple of months after RBC Capital Markets analyst Doug Freedman said that Apple and Intel might be imagining a new partnership in which Intel would build the iPhone maker's ARM-based smartphone chips in exchange for it using Intel's X86 processors in its next-generationiPad.

CNET has contacted both Intel and Apple for comment on the Reuters report. We will update this story when we have more information.