Intel Has 1,000 Employees Working on LTE Modem Chip for the Next-Generation iPhone

[MacRumors]

Intel has a thousand of its employees working on preparing the Intel 7360 LTE modem for Apple's iPhone 7 devices, reports VentureBeat. Apple is rumored to be switching to the Intel modem chip for some models of the iPhone 7, using it instead of the standard Qualcomm chips Apple has used for years.

Intel's 7360 LTE modem chip features an up to 450MB/s downlink and it supports 29 LTE bands. Intel is eager to score a contract with Apple, which is why it has poured so many resources into the development of the chip, which is supposed to begin shipping later this year.

One source said Intel needs a small army of people on the Apple account because of the importance of the project to Apple's future in the mobile market, because of the complexity of the project, and because Apple is a demanding client with an extremely popular phone.

The LTE modem chips in the next-generation iPhones could be dual-sourced from both Intel and Qualcomm, with earlier rumors suggesting devices in emerging markets in Asia and Latin America could use Intel's chip. Intel is not yet an official supplier for the modem chip, but should Intel continue to make important milestones, it could wind up inking a deal with Apple.

Should work on the modem chip go well, VentureBeat says Intel could end up supplying Apple with both that chip and the fabrication for a new Apple system-on-a-chip. Apple is said to be aiming to create a future system-on-a-chip that includes both the iPhone's Ax processor and the LTE modem chip for improved speed and power management.

To achieve that goal, Apple would design the system-on-a-chip, licensing LTE modem intellectual property from Intel, with Intel also fabricating the chip with its 14-nanometer process. VentureBeat's sources say Apple is interested in Intel's technology because of its "front to back" 14-nanometer process that results in "silicon chips with superior density and gate pitch." Intel is also developing a 10-nanometer process that has caught Apple's eye.

Apple's system-on-a-chip project would likely be for a future version of the iPhone, rather than the iPhone 7. For now, the iPhone 7 is likely to continue using chips from existing manufacturers like Samsung and TSMC, along with the separate modem chips from Intel and Qualcomm.

Article Link: Intel Has 1,000 Employees Working on LTE Modem Chip for the Next-Generation iPhone

 

[bpeeps]

If they go the half Qualcomm half Intel route, I already hear the Apple nerds singing. Returning my qualcomm chip for an Intel one! My LTE is so slow, is it because of CHIP!

 

[SSD-GUY]

Intel wants in.

 

[Pelea]

Early benchmarks have already come out showing a 40-60% difference in battery life depending on the model.

I hope I get the Intel chip next year!

/s

 

[LordQ]

Apple is rumored to be switching to the Intel modem chip for some models of the iPhone 7

Sounds like the Samsung vs TSMC chips debate again.

 

[yaboyac29]

people are gonna be bitching because person a gets 25mbps, while person b gets 15mbps..

but they won't take into consideration other factors such as signal strength.

 

[nutjob]

Intel is so desperate to enter the mobile space that Apple is probably getting these chips for free.

And maybe they should, since they would be taking such a risk with an unproven device and supplier. A massive recall of iPhones would be devastating to Apple.

 

[nutjob]

Intel knows what they're doing when it comes to making chips. If this is true, it could mean good things for the future of iDevices! Nobody else (that I know of) has a 10nm process in their pipeline yet.

Actually that's entirely untrue. Intel doesn't have extensive experience at producing wireless modems, and it's challenging to the point of being a black art.

Not all chips are the same, and just because you've produced CPUs doesn't mean you're going to be good at producing modems. The fact that they're throwing staff at the problem doesn't bode well, since that tends to make things worse than better.

Also the main foundries are already working on sub 14nm technologies, and have been for some time.

 

[garylapointe]

1,000?!?!? That seems like a lot.

Seems like the infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of typewriters parable(?),
eventually one of them will crank out an LTE chip (or Shakespeare).

Gary

(This comment is not meant to be a criticism of Intel, it just seems like a HUGE number).

 

[Vanilla35]

So what you're saying is - I should make an app ahead of time that tells you which chip you have and be ready by launch

 

[imaginex20]

I'm all for it, it generates more income for a U.S. based company. Now, lets just hope intel doesn't have manufacturing problems or delays like their desktop counterparts.

 

[mdlooker]

Intel has a thousand of its employees working on preparing the Intel 7360 LTE modem for Apple's iPhone 7 devices

Apple is rumored to be switching to the Intel modem chip for some models of the iPhone 7​

,using it instead of the standard Qualcomm chips Apple has used for years.

Apple's system-on-a-chip project would likely be for a future version of the iPhone, rather than the iPhone 7. For now, the iPhone 7 is likely to continue using chips from existing manufacturers like Samsung and TSMC, along with the separate modem chips from Intel and Qualcomm.

Umma... ??? It's looking like the iPhone 7 will have the new chip but as of now it's not likely to happen on the iPhone 7 but hey either is likely or may not happen.

 

[jayducharme]

If Intel can do it right, this could be really good for both them and Apple. An integrated chip would definitely have advantages. And it would be yet another blow to Samsung. I just saw an article today stating that TSMC might handle the bulk of (if not all of) the chip fabrication for the iPhone 7. All of these announcements could simply be bargaining chips to use against Samsung.

 

[pat500000]

So, un-intel is working modem chip....how about they focus on bringing the desktop chip for mac pro?

 

[BeSweeet]

Maybe they can also work on an antenna system that doesn't decrease signal when picking up a phone.

 

[CFreymarc]

1,000?!?!? That seems like a lot.

Seems like the infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of typewriters parable(?),
eventually one of them will crank out an LTE chip (or Shakespeare).

Gary

(This comment is not meant to be a criticism of Intel, it just seems like a HUGE number).

Keep in mind that 1000 people are not all design. There is typically a design team of a few dozen layout people and less than a dozen IC architects. Around them are process planners, fabrication engineers and over a hundred back end testing and qualification engineers. Beyond that are documentation, marketing, shipping and executive director staff reporting to the rest of the company. Also a lot are contractors not on the project the entire time.

 

[cableguy84]

Hope i get the intel chip to go with my superior tsmc chip

 

[nagromme]

Holy Mythical Man-Month, Batman!

 

[ghostface147]

Now granted there were some network problems early on with AT&T, but those early Infineon basebands also weren't the best. Once they switched to Qualcomm, things got a lot better (along with AT&T boosting their network). Was it AT&T all along or Infineon? We'll never know.

 

[NickD73]

That's assuming Apple is even still afloat by the time iPhone 7 would normally launch.

 

[Max(IT)]

it would be very interesting a partnership Apple/Intel for Ax SoCs.
Intel already is a serious partner for Apple, with Macs.

 

[nepalisherpa]

I can't wait for my phone to have the "Intel Inside" logo on the back!

 

[stars_fan]

That's assuming Apple is even still afloat by the time iPhone 7 would normally launch.

Lol comment of the month

 

[Max(IT)]

I can't wait for my phone to have the "Intel Inside" logo on the back!

your MacBook hasn't ....

 

[ghost187]

Future eBay listing:

iPhone 7 Ultimate Edition $3000.

128 gb Samsung flash
TSMC A10 processor
Intel LTE chip
LG Oled display.

Don't settle for less, bid now and secure your ultimate iPhone 7 that all your friends will envy.