I personally don't care about the engineering behind it. It's about being able to actually make and receive phone calls. When the iPhone XS Max that is sitting on my table continually says "call failed" when I try to answer it, yet the iPhone 7 doesn't, that's enough conclusion for me that Intel modems are garbage. I'm not the only one that has that problem either.
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Apple Acquiring the Majority of Intel's Smartphone Modem Business
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I am aware of the advantages of build in cellular, comes in handy in certain cases, like for people who don’t have direct access to WiFi, which becomes rarer nowadays.
I remember years ago were we were on site for projects, no internet connection, now there’s always a way to connect without cellular.
Most businesses have Byod networks, T least here in NL.
Assuming that they are on the same provider, how do you know it is not the antenna rather than the modem?
Intel does not make the antenna.
Yeap, same for me, my 6S gets better reception then my XR does, and I haven’t moved house! In fact I may get my 6S our at the weekend to retest it.
Move country... jk, they are not garbage, just because you get failed calls you assume it’s the modem, lots of other reasons why a phone call fails.
Patent infringement isn't stolen. It's different from trade secrets. Patents are required to disclose to the public exactly how to implement the patented idea so others can do so, in exchange for receiving a 20 year monopoly.
Obviously, there are different interpretations on whether a specific implementation is covered by the patent or not, or whether an idea is patentable to begin with, leading to court cases.
Trade secrets are different. They last forever until they become no longer a secret. Trade secrets can be stolen, or they can be independently discovered or reverse engineered. In the latter cases, too bad for the owner.
No one here really does.....but that doesn’t stop them weighing in as though they are modem industry experts.
You're right, it could be the wind or birds flying by. . . my bet is on the modem, since the iPhone 7 / X (unlocked QC version) don't have these issues.
You really have that much faith in Intel? There's a reason that Apple dropped a boatload of cash into the Qualcomm deal, and that they are (rumored) to be putting ARM chips in the mac down the road. Intel has hit a wall in all kinds of areas.
Also, the design of the iPhone X / Xs is the same. If it were an antenna issue, those with the QC Modem on the iPhone X would have complained, yet it was only those with the Intel modem that noticed a difference in signal quality.
It goes both ways, I hear few people complain about bad intel modems.
If it was that bad you would hear a lot of noise on the internet in Europe, guess what, it’s non existent.
They will have to still pay Qualcomm for any Qulcomm patents in the modems and vice versa. Any newly gotten Appletel patents in Qualcomm modems, Qualcomm will have to pay Apple.
Considering the expertise, patents and pay off in long term strategy seems like they got a good deal at $1B.
You're right, it could be the wind or birds flying by. . . my bet is on the modem, since the iPhone 7 / X (unlocked QC version) don't have these issues.
You really have that much faith in Intel? There's a reason that Apple dropped a boatload of cash into the Qualcomm deal, and that they are (rumored) to be putting ARM chips in the mac down the road. Intel has hit a wall in all kinds of areas.
Also, the design of the iPhone X / Xs is the same. If it were an antenna issue, those with the QC Modem on the iPhone X would have complained, yet it was only those with the Intel modem that noticed a difference in signal quality.
You’re bet...?
There’s only noise here on MR and a few other sites, barely a widespread issue, maybe a faulty iPhone, or lots of other reasons you have this issue.
Wouldn't 5G be better used in computers than mobile devices?
Also, perhaps this is a good patent portfolio grab so there is more ammunition when dealing with Qualcomm.
Also, perhaps this is a good patent portfolio grab so there is more ammunition when dealing with Qualcomm.
I wasn’t blaming anyone. Not sure why you’re so eager to defend modems that are by about any standard worse than a competitor’s offering, though.
Perhaps and hopefully Apple will improve on what Intel has built.
The only thing that’s scary about this is the fact that the amount spent on this acquisition was 33.3% of the amount Apple paid to buy a headphone brand years ago. They’ll likely reap many, many times more benefits from the Intel modem division acquisition than they ever will with Beats.
Just like the Keyboard in the 2016+ MacBook Pro failing isn't a "widespread issue" (according to Apple).
I'm basing this entirely off of my experience as well as others that are here and on other sites as well. Just because people aren't shouting it from the rooftops doesn't mean it's not an issue. If Apple hadn't been so bitchy about Qualcomm they never would have gone to Intel in the first place. There's a reason that QC modems are industry standard and Intel sold their business. Can Apple change that? Maybe they can, but it won't be tomorrow or in the next 5 years.
Edit: Switching to the Intel modem provided one thing for Apple, and that was not being made by Qualcomm. If the acquisition proves to be good in the long term, great.
This is huge, and it happened a lot faster than I expected. Apple is really serious about this. This explains why they were suddenly so quick to settle in that lawsuit with Qualcomm. It's still early, but I'm pretty sure they played this whole situation expertly. It will be interesting to see if there will be some crossover between their A-series chip team and these new employees to design extremely power efficient chips that are possibly integrated directly into the SoC? That could bring about some huge battery life improvements and optimizations for the modem.
Also, they left the non-phone rights for the tech with Intel to develop that market. They only pay for the application they want while getting a portfolio they can cross license, strengthening their position in Qualcomm negotiations.
Intel and Apple both walk away happy. Excellent dealmaking on both sides.
"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time...." Interesting that this is one deal they were happy to discuss.
I'm just dreaming here, but wouldn't it be interesting if Apple developed their own cellular modem that would work on a hypothetical Apple worldwide network. They'd control everything end-to-end.
I'm just dreaming here, but wouldn't it be interesting if Apple developed their own cellular modem that would work on a hypothetical Apple worldwide network. They'd control everything end-to-end.
US has the least Cell tower to capita in the developed world, even within Cities, Cell Tower density are still lower. In perfect condition Intel isn't that much different to Qualcomm. It is those lower signals and edge cases where it shows the Strength of Qualcomm solution.
Just long enough for Apple to transition to their own modem at the end of the contract.
Funny how anecdotal evidence ahowing something about the iPhone (or Intel modems) is bad is accepted as fact, but anecdotal evidence from people who don’t have the issue is suspect.
The hypocrisy is strong in this thread.
Because Intel is a public company, which means Intel would have to announce it anyway, and the deal will be subject to approval.