5G may have lately become a buzzword in the industry, but it will be sometime before it becomes a standard. Apple, however, is looking into the future, and the first reports about how it plans to adopt 5G have surfaced online.
Apple has reportedly been working with Intel to incorporate the chip maker’s 5G modems into its future iPhones. As per Fast Company, the Cupertino giant has also been in talks with Qualcomm, but these talks have been ‘limited’. It is a known thing that Qualcomm has a superior 5G modem with advanced features. But the report states that Apple engineers believe that Intel’s technology will satisfy the “requirements for a future iPhone”.
The report adds that Intel has ‘multiple thousands’ of engineers working on improving its 5G chipset. But don’t hold your breath for a 5G iPhone, as the earliest Intel is likely to ship its latest modem will be around 2019 or 2020.
This news comes amidst the ongoing feud between Apple and Qualcomm. It all started with Apple alleging that Qualcomm was charging billions in royalty fees for technology that it has nothing to do with. When Apple stopped paying royalties, Qualcomm filed lawsuits and is also said to have withheld software needed to test the chips on iOS devices.
This ongoing battle has resulted in reports about Apple looking to reduce its dependence on Qualcomm. It has been developing its own chipsets, but for modems, Apple could reportedly be looking at Intel, and possibly MediaTek.
It is widely believed that patching things up with Apple could be beneficial for Qualcomm. The world’s largest chip maker was recently subject to a takeover bid worth $105 billion from Broadcom. Qualcomm, however, rejected the bid claiming it undervalued the company. In a statement, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said, “We are confident in our ability to create significant additional value for our stockholders as we continue our growth in these attractive segments and lead the transition to 5G.”
