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Apple To Build New $2 Billion Data Center In Bankrupted GT Advanced Buildings
mrspoonsi writes Apple announced it will spend about $2 billion to build a new data center in Mesa, Arizona. It will be housed in buildings formerly used by GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT), which went bankrupt last year after failing to supply sapphire display covers for the iPhone 6. The data center will be powered entirely by renewable energy. It will be a "command center for our global networks." Apple has said it would help find work for people affected by GTAT's bankruptcy. It's possible some of those former GTAT employees might help construct the new command center. When Apple initially partnered with GTAT to make sapphire displays, the company invested millions in a sapphire production facility. It makes sense that Apple would want to do something with the building if it couldn't make sapphire there.
That's not cynicism, this is cynicism.
Promise contract to company. Make contract impossible to fulfil. Bankrupt company. Sweep up company assets on the cheap. ??? Profit.
I know it's cool to hate Apple, but GTAT is who made the promise they couldn't keep and Apple is the company that got left holding the bag.
Some privacy policy Slashdot.
You have obviously never built out a data center after the walls are up, the AC is running at full blast, and rows after rows of empty racks are waiting for installation of servers, switches and fiber cables.
While I agree that GTAT doomed itself by signing the agreement with Apple, the terms of the agreement were so outragious that I think that Apple still deserves a lot of blame. Here's the Forbes article on the contract:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjones/2014/10/30/this-is-why-apple-did-not-want-its-gtat-contracts-made-public/
First of all, Apple were the ones who bought the land and facilities they are turning into a data centre FOR GTAT to use to make Saphire. So they already own the plant.
Secondly, they have not bought GTAT at all. At least hate Apple for legit reasons, not made up ones.
You buy a company, bankrupt it because your idea didn't work out and then offer to help some of the people who;s job you destroyed.
What part of your statement is true?
Did Apple buy GTAT? No. They paid GTAT for a contract to build sapphire that GTAT could not deliver. When GTAT declared bankruptcy, Apple would be their largest creditor and are entitled to some portion of the assets but they did not "buy" GTAT. The rumors are that Apple advanced GTAT $350 million to build whatever facilities they would need to supply Apple with the necessary amount of sapphire and equipment. So GTAT may have spent part or all of the money.
Second it wasn't Apple's idea to get into the sapphire business for GTAT. GTAT was in the business long before Apple. Now GTAT's problem was that they were not a large scale manufacturer of sapphire or manufacturing equipment. At best they had a small business doing both. According to estimates, Apple would need at least 2600 furnaces to meet with estimates. From what I read, the original agreement was that GTAT would manufacture, install, and operate those furnaces at an Apple facility. They were not able to do so and the agreement had GTAT manufacturing rather being simply an equipment manufacturer.
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.