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Qualcomm has announced an agreement with Apple to extend the supply of iPhone modems until 2026. The agreement, widely publicized by the chip maker, came a day before the presentation of the iPhone 15 that we will offer you live this afternoon.
The relationship between Qualcomm and Apple It was and continues to be complicated, but necessity compels and the modem is an absolutely key component in a phone when providing mobile broadband communications. Apple – much to its regret – had to reach an agreement with Qualcomm in 2019 when the jury of a Californian federal court determined that it had violated the chip manufacturer’s patents in the creation of its smartphones.
The agreement implicitly included the supply of Qualcomm 5G chips for the next generations of Apple smartphones, although those from Cupertino had explored other options such as MediaTek, from Intel, and also their own modem. At the same time, Apple prepared for the future by purchasing Intel’s communications chip business and hiring additional talent such as a former Qualcomm engineering manager.
But everything indicates that Apple has not had time to produce its own modems and hence the use of third parties: «Qualcomm Technologies has signed an agreement with Apple Inc. to supply Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF systems for smartphone launches in 2024, 2025 and 2026. This agreement reinforces Qualcomm’s track record of sustained leadership in 5G technologies and products”, they commented last night from Qualcomm.
Own iPhone modems: a matter of time
According to American media, Qualcomm’s supply will only reach 20% of the new iPhones and it is clear that it is only a matter of time before those from Cupertino use their own in their entire line of devices. The objective is none other than reduce dependence on external suppliers in most of the electronics you use.
It has already done so with great success in the design of the Apple-A SoC engines for mobile devices manufactured by the TSMC foundry and the same can be said of the transition in PCs, abandoning Intel’s x86 for its own ARM in all its Macs. .
The communications and networks section will be next. After acquire Intel’s modem businessApple did not waste a minute in starting to develop its own solutions, but they are delicate components. Apple has to subject the chips to network optimization tests to ensure that they work correctly with the wireless networks of the operators where it is sold and Apple sells mobile phones around the world.
The modem must be tested to ensure compliance with global standards, regional standards, and a battery of tests to meet the requirements of communications regulators such as the FCC. It’s just a matter of time. See you this afternoon at the presentation of the iPhone 15… with Qualcomm 5G modem.
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