Apple could ditch Qualcomm for new Gbps Intel XMM 7650 modem in iPhone 8
Earlier today Intel announced a new XMM 7650 Baseband Processor modem today to take on Qualcomm's X16. Unlike previous Intel modems, the new product supports CDMA in addition to LTE, as well as high speed LTE Category 16, enabling gigabit downloads. The new chip could enable global mobile support for Apple's next iPhones.
Intel's new chip was profiled by Sacha Sagan, writing or PC Mag, who called it a likely frontrunner for Apple's upcoming iPhone 7s and 8 models.
Sagan noted that Intel's 7560 Baseband Processor "is LTE Category 16/13, with download speeds of 1Gbps and upload speeds of 225Mbps. It supports up to 8x4 MIMO, up to 35 LTE bands, and all of the current evolutions of LTE, GSM, and CDMA."
Last fall, Apple began using Intel modem chips in some of its non-CDMA iPhone models for use with carriers including AT&T and T-Mobile. However, it continued to use Qualcomm modems because Intel didn't have the ability to support legacy CDMA networks such as Verizon and Sprint.
Intel's new modem chip could allow Apple to switch entirely to Intel, after a bitter feud with Qualcomm over licensing issues. Apple charged that Qualcomm's practice of charging licensing fees as a percentage of the total cost of iPhones means that it is demanding more money for unrelated value Apple itself is creating.
With Apple rumored to be introducing an even more expensive premium iPhone model this fall, its inability to negotiate favorable terms with Qualcomm would give it a strong incentive to shift its business entirely to Intel.
Six years later, Apple returned to using some of Intel's chips where CDMA support wasn't required, but Intel's new inclusion of CDMA support could enable an expanded partnership with Apple in Baseband Processors that would give Intel a greatly expanded entry into the baseband market currently dominated by Qualcomm.
A move by Apple away from Qualcomm would follow the pattern of its parallel legal issues with Samsung, which induced the company to move its Application Processor business from Samsung's LSI fab to TSMC (although that transition took years to complete).
Apple's next generation of iPhones will compete against a new Samsung flagship using Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835, which combines an Application Processor and X16 Baseband Processor into a single chipset. Qualcomm also announced a new X20 modem that's even faster, although carriers have yet to roll out networks that take advantage of it.
Apple is expected to pair its own TSMC-produced A11 Application Processor with a third party Baseband Processor. If it moves entirely to Intel, Qualcomm would be left dependent upon Android devices, which make up a shrinking segment of the most valuable premium tier of the market.
Intel's new chip was profiled by Sacha Sagan, writing or PC Mag, who called it a likely frontrunner for Apple's upcoming iPhone 7s and 8 models.
Sagan noted that Intel's 7560 Baseband Processor "is LTE Category 16/13, with download speeds of 1Gbps and upload speeds of 225Mbps. It supports up to 8x4 MIMO, up to 35 LTE bands, and all of the current evolutions of LTE, GSM, and CDMA."
Last fall, Apple began using Intel modem chips in some of its non-CDMA iPhone models for use with carriers including AT&T and T-Mobile. However, it continued to use Qualcomm modems because Intel didn't have the ability to support legacy CDMA networks such as Verizon and Sprint.
Intel's new modem chip could allow Apple to switch entirely to Intel, after a bitter feud with Qualcomm over licensing issues. Apple charged that Qualcomm's practice of charging licensing fees as a percentage of the total cost of iPhones means that it is demanding more money for unrelated value Apple itself is creating.
With Apple rumored to be introducing an even more expensive premium iPhone model this fall, its inability to negotiate favorable terms with Qualcomm would give it a strong incentive to shift its business entirely to Intel.
Intel looking for a mobile win
Intel is hungry for business, following the repeated failure of its own efforts to bring x86 compatible chips to mobile with Atom. In 2010, Intel acquired Infineon, the Baseband Processor vendor Apple had been using since the first iPhone, just as Apple shifted to Qualcomm in order to expand support to CDMA carriers like Verizon.Six years later, Apple returned to using some of Intel's chips where CDMA support wasn't required, but Intel's new inclusion of CDMA support could enable an expanded partnership with Apple in Baseband Processors that would give Intel a greatly expanded entry into the baseband market currently dominated by Qualcomm.
A move by Apple away from Qualcomm would follow the pattern of its parallel legal issues with Samsung, which induced the company to move its Application Processor business from Samsung's LSI fab to TSMC (although that transition took years to complete).
Apple's next generation of iPhones will compete against a new Samsung flagship using Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835, which combines an Application Processor and X16 Baseband Processor into a single chipset. Qualcomm also announced a new X20 modem that's even faster, although carriers have yet to roll out networks that take advantage of it.
Apple is expected to pair its own TSMC-produced A11 Application Processor with a third party Baseband Processor. If it moves entirely to Intel, Qualcomm would be left dependent upon Android devices, which make up a shrinking segment of the most valuable premium tier of the market.
Comments
What's worst is Intel Radio Front End, which really is severely lacking behind Qualcomm. But nevertheless Intel's modem should be a lot cheaper.
Which Carriers are CDMA? Which are GSM?
In the U.S., Sprint, Verizon and U.S. Cellular use CDMA. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM.
Most of the rest of the world uses GSM. The global spread of GSM came about because in 1987, Europe mandated the technology by law, and because GSM comes from an industry consortium. What we call CDMA, by and large, is owned by chipmaker Qualcomm. This made it less expensive for third parties to build GSM equipment.
-- The statement about Qualcomm owning CDMA shows why Apple is having so many cost issues, CDMA is basically a monopoly owned by Qualcomm. I just used my Verizon iPhone 6s in Canada and because I have the package that includes international calling and receiving in Canada and Mexico, my iPhone used GSM on Rogers cellular network without any problems. I guess I just live in the wrong country.
I must have gotten one of the crappy Intel modems inside. Hope the next generation is better.
I'm not a fan of Qualcomm, so I'm hoping Intel got a good deal from them licensing the IP. (As a result of all the lawsuits)
Verizon already has the 4G LTE technology that will eventually replace CDMA, but they still have a lot of legacy CDMA users to support. They are not willing to pull the plug on those customers yet. Same with Sprint.
When VoLTE (VoIP over LTE) is already old technology, then Verizon will pull the plug on CDMA but I think we have a few years until we get to that point.
Remember that Verizon and Sprint aren't the only CDMA carriers on the planet. About 15% of the world's mobile operators are legacy CDMA carriers. It'll eventually happen, but not this nor next year nor probably the year after that.
Wouldn't this be great and Apple would then collect licensing fees from all mobile devices?
Actually the only GSM / CDMA issues are at the 2G and lower levels. Once we hit 3G and non-LTE 4G all the carriers are using the same or closely related technology, just in different bands (WCDMA / HSPA) and of course with 4G LTE they are all using the same basic technology.
That is why your US phone works in Canada and Europe and Asia. If you compare the qualcom chipped CDMA compatible iPhones with the Intel chipped iPhones they all support the same basic sets of 3G and 4G and LTE bands and just the 2G CDMA stuff is different for the most part. (They may have some different sets of frequency bands in each for the 3G and later)