Report: Apple's 5G modem to arrive in 2025, execs 'fed up' with slow Intel development
Apple's rancor at the slow progress of Intel modem development began long before April's Qualcomm settlement and the rush to 5G, a report said on Wednesday, adding that the iPhone maker's in-house baseband chip won't arrive until 2025.
In early 2017, senior Hardware Technologies VP Johny Srouji "barked" at Intel's Venkata Renduchintala during a meeting at 1 Infinite Loop, according to a source for The Information. Srouji was allegedly frustrated with Intel's work on the XMM 7560, intended for 2018 iPhones.
The modem wasn't functioning properly, two sources said, even though Intel had already overhauled it four times to put it on par with Qualcomm chips, and missed multiple deadlines along the way.
"This would have never happened at Apple under my watch," Srouji supposedly told Renduchintala.
Under Srouji, Apple is believed to be creating its own 5G modem. Senior staff are telling engineers that the chip is due in 2025, an Information source claimed.
Apple settled its legal war with Qualcomm in mid-April. The same day, Intel announced its departure from the 5G phone modem business and it's now expected that 2020 iPhones will have 5G Qualcomm chips across the board.
Indeed, Apple reportedly hired away Intel's 5G lead not long before Qualcomm settlement, forcing Intel to "reshuffle" 5G work. Apple is once again believed to have been upset with Intel's pace, particularly since it was approaching a deadline for choosing a 2020 chip.
Intel is continuing to produce 5G modems, but only for markets such as drones, cars and robots. A spokesperson confirmed that other companies have approached it about buying that division.
In early 2017, senior Hardware Technologies VP Johny Srouji "barked" at Intel's Venkata Renduchintala during a meeting at 1 Infinite Loop, according to a source for The Information. Srouji was allegedly frustrated with Intel's work on the XMM 7560, intended for 2018 iPhones.
The modem wasn't functioning properly, two sources said, even though Intel had already overhauled it four times to put it on par with Qualcomm chips, and missed multiple deadlines along the way.
"This would have never happened at Apple under my watch," Srouji supposedly told Renduchintala.
Under Srouji, Apple is believed to be creating its own 5G modem. Senior staff are telling engineers that the chip is due in 2025, an Information source claimed.
Apple settled its legal war with Qualcomm in mid-April. The same day, Intel announced its departure from the 5G phone modem business and it's now expected that 2020 iPhones will have 5G Qualcomm chips across the board.
Indeed, Apple reportedly hired away Intel's 5G lead not long before Qualcomm settlement, forcing Intel to "reshuffle" 5G work. Apple is once again believed to have been upset with Intel's pace, particularly since it was approaching a deadline for choosing a 2020 chip.
Intel is continuing to produce 5G modems, but only for markets such as drones, cars and robots. A spokesperson confirmed that other companies have approached it about buying that division.
Comments
I did a double take on the 2025 modem introduction. But then I realized that Apple needs to design this thing from the ground up and make sure they do not utilize any Qualcomm IP in the process. Any patents they use should be FRAND. It will be devilishly tricky to make sure they don’t unintentionally use someone else’s IP. That could slow things down as well.
Then I would ask what is cause and effect. Did the licensing deal with Qualcomm drive the 2025 date or did the modem design effort drive the licensing deal?
1. The Information has far from a spotless track record on Apple reporting
2. Even if the 2025 date is correct, I think it's pretty clear that's a reference to the end of the Qualcomm deal. As some details about this deal have come out, it's become clear that Apple renegotiated away at least half of the money it "owed" Qualcomm under their previous illegal scheme, plus got a far better rate on the new chips. So what did Qualcomm get, I've been wondering, besides a stock boost from the promise of six years of Apple business, since they gave away so much owed money and future royalties?
Now we may know. Apple poaching that 5G Intel guy and leaking that it was building its own modem was a bargaining chip. Under threat that Apple would develop their own (and better) 5G modem (and maybe license it fairly to other companies ...), what Qualcomm may have gotten is a promise that Apple wouldn't bring out or market a 5G modem until the contract ended.
And now Apple has plenty of time to built and perfect their own 5G modem, and (if they choose to license it) become a major player in networking again. Hell, this might even inspire them to relaunch/update AirPort technology.
I think the posts above are right - the rumor was developed based on the timeframe of the Qualcomm deal, not the other way around. Regardless, QC has such a huge portfolio of 5G patents, you can bet Apple will be paying them some royalty money. Even if it’s covered under FRAND that doesn’t mean QC will abide by that model (at least without a legal fight)
-- 5G was rolling out around the world
-- Apple was looking at falling behind for 5 years. A delay that would destroy their reputation as an industry leader
So, they swallowed their pride and surrendered to Qualcomm.
It's such a shame that Trump blocked them from accessing the only other viable 5G vendor of modems. Now they are stuck with deplorable Qualcomm.
Not being able to put competitive pressure on suppliers (whether RAM, modem, Mac cpu)
However, in production outsourcing they do rule Foxconn and Pegatron...
That said, it is reasonable to think that its 5G modem will be multimode and therefore also a 4G modem.