Apple helping out Intel?

[Princess Luna]

Apple contemplated buying parts of Intel's cellular modem business to speed up 5G

Quote

Apple was indeed in talks about potentially buying portions of Intel's cellular modem business in order to speed up its own internal modem development, a report claimed on Friday.

 

Conversations began in summer 2018, and continued for several months, according to the Wall Street Journal. They ended, however, by the time Apple reached its settlement with Qualcomm earlier this month. Intel announced its departure from the 5G modem business the same day.

Intel is now looking at "strategic alternatives" for its modem business, and could still potentially sell to Apple or another firm, Journal sources said. Analysts previously speculated about an Apple takeover.

If Intel is having a hard time with what "does best" it might be wise take a step back on a moment of struggle as AMD keeps gaining grounds, I think it'd be enjoying doing such deal just as much if not more than Apple right now.

 

Source.

[ARikozuM]

I look forward to the iPhone 11 with Vega and R5... 

 

If only... 

 

On topic: I'd like to see what portions Intel is needing help on. Perhaps Apple has the knowledge to design a modem by themselves?

[IAmAndre]

I don't get it and I'm too tired to investigate this. Is Intel running out of money or something?

[dizmo]

I don't think it's entirely accurate to say that Apple is helping out Intel. Intel IIRC said that there isn't enough of a market to focus on 5G modems, and that there is more profit to be made by investing their R&D in other ventures. So, if they can sell off some of what they've worked on to Apple, it only makes sense to get something instead of nothing, especially if they have no future plans to pursue the technology.

[Princess Luna]

Just now, dizmo said:

if they can sell off some of what they've worked on to Apple, it only makes sense to get something instead of nothing,

So... Apple helps them achieve it?

 

They are just washing each other's hands if this come true

[Arika]

6 minutes ago, IAmAndre said:

I don't get it and I'm too tired to investigate this. Is Intel running out of money or something?

No, they are just no longer making 5g modems. Apple was their only customer for them and now they have a deal with qualcomm theres no reason for them to continue. Apple has been wanting to make their own modems for years so buying part of what intel is no longer using is a hell of a jump start for it.

[SkyHound0202]

Apple want to build their own self-sustaining ecosystem.

They replaced ARM reference design with their own custom micro-architecture in 2012

The replaced Samsung SSD controller with their own custom controller in 2015.

They replaced PowerVR chipsets with their custom GPU in 2017.

...

What's next, their own 4G modem, their own baseband processor?

That's what they would get for buying out Intel Mobile Communications (IMC), plus it could hypothetically enable them to build a laptop with A-series (or its derivatives) to rival Qualcomm's 8cx based laptop. Not to mention those patents that Intel currently holds, which is another stab at Qualcomm.

[NumLock21]

Intel is just exiting the 5G modem business, but they will continue on with their 5G network infrastructure.  Looks like Apple wants Intel 5G modem, so they can make their own 5G modem.

[captain_to_fire]

I can feel it...

 

[Guest]

Top 10 pranks (Apple) (Gone Wrong) 

[williamcll]

8 hours ago, captain_to_fire said:

I can feel it...

 

Nice drawing

[captain_to_fire]

15 minutes ago, williamcll said:

Nice drawing

Not mine https://youtu.be/VObg5BiXx6I?t=1009

 

[Commodus]

It's well known that Apple is developing its own wireless chips.  It's even poaching people from Qualcomm for offices that will be right in its rival's backyard.  Buying Intel's business might help speed things up, but it wouldn't be necessary.

[dizmo]

14 hours ago, Princess Cadence said:

So... Apple helps them achieve it?

 

They are just washing each other's hands if this come true

Haha, that's not really how one would word that though, let's be real

It'll be interesting to see what Apple does in a few years once it has full control of it's supply chain though.