Recently Apple acquired exclusive rights to use Liquidmetal Technology’s “amorphous” metal alloys in consumer electronics. While the agreement was just recently made, it appears as if Apple began using the technology two years ago and it could already be included with something you own, the iPhone 3G.
No, the iPhone 3G was not made with the Liquidmetal alloys, however the SIM ejection tool was.
When Cult of Mac spoke with the alloy’s co-inventor, Atakan Peker, he said, “That’s my metal, I recognized it immediately. Take it from an expert, that’s Liquidmetal.”
Cult of Mac says they have independently confirmed that Apple used the Liquidmetal alloy to test the company’s manufacturing capabilities. Apple’s has a policy in place to obtain two sources for parts as a method to prevent supply problems from unexpected events like a factory burning down. Due to Liquidmetal’s unique situation, being the only company that manufacturers the alloy, Apple had to approach the company a bit differently and the reason Apple chose to test the process on a non essential part.
Peker said that the SIM tool exhibits every property of the liquidmetal alloy, its lightweight, almost impossible to bend with your hands and has a distinctive color and feel.
It is unclear how long Apple used the Liquidmetal alloys. European versions of the iPhone 3G include regular steel pins. Those shipped to Asia are suspected of also being regular steel.
