Apple Acquiring the Majority of Intel's Smartphone Modem Business

[czoli]

Nice move. Will pay off.

First thing to pay is 2200 Employees every month Plus all other costs ... good luck having an ROI on this ... let alone the quality of the 5G solutions
[doublepost=1564131581][/doublepost]

Smart move.

Really ?

 

[MX20]

The Beats acquisition isn’t worth every penny. Guess what? Steve Jobs will scrap it if found out the deal in 2014 and seek to acquire Intel 4G modem development in 2014 when Intel Announces First Commercial Availability of 4G LTE Modem; Introduces Module for 4G Connected Tablets and Ultrabooks™


NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

• Intel® XMM™ 7160 LTE modem is now shipping in the 4G version of the Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 (10.1) – available in Asia and Europe.
• Intel® XMM™ 7160 provides multimode (2G/3G/4G LTE) voice and data with simultaneous support for 15 LTE bands for global LTE roaming.
• Intel announces PCIe M.2 LTE wireless data modules expected to ship in 2014 tablet and Ultrabook™ designs from leading manufacturers

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Beats has made Apple billions since the acquisition in both Apple Music ecosystem and hardware sales.

 

[Terrinb]

Ironically, they're putting Intel technology in iPhones, while rumored to be putting iPhone ARM technology in their computers.

Apple seems to be better at designing its own chips than Intel is designing chips for Apple.

It is a smart move. Apple keeps the patents out of patent trolls hands, acquire Intels talent, and can improve the technology.

 

[Heineken]

A much smarter move than it's acquisition of Beats.

Beats was an excellent purchase.

 

[Heineken]

Crazy how this is worth ‘just’ $1B and Beats was worth 3x that.

Because beats was an established brand already and Apple is not buying intel just their mobile modem division.
[doublepost=1564140604][/doublepost]

First thing to pay is 2200 Employees every month Plus all other costs ... good luck having an ROI on this ... let alone the quality of the 5G solutions
[doublepost=1564131581][/doublepost]

Really ?

In business nobody expects return of investment tomorrow.

 

[Struedel]

Qualcomm:

There are enough celular manufacturers who will continue to buy processors and modems from Qualcomm. Now the question is: is Apple going to sell modems and processors to others once they figure out the technology? Then Huawei buys embattled Qualcom down the road.
[doublepost=1564142812][/doublepost]

You don't need to drain your phone's battery, for one. And you don't need to waste energy in both devices communicating.

And maybe cellular companies will restrict data speed / quantity for the phones in the future but offer good deals for laptop cellular contracts.

 

[ROGmaster]

2) they no longer have to design a product that works for everyone - they just need to target apple’s specific needs.

LoL they were already doing that as Apple was their only major mobile modem client.

4) intel was getting closer to qualcomm with each generation.

Yeah with each generation getting closer to where Qualcomm was 2 years prior.

There's no coincidence that Intel is selling their modems business.

 

[nt5672]

Not sure if this is a good move or a bad move. I hope Apple makes the modems better than Intel could.

Yep, buy the technology, hire the same people that worked on it, and expect it to be better. Don't see that in any way.

RF technology is not like designing CPUs, there is an art to it. Let's hope money hoarding Cook properly funds the acquisition of better people than those who worked on the original Intel tech.

 

[BootsWalking]

As long as people post incorrect information I will continue to call them out. Perhaps you should concentrate on facts instead of “feel good” sound bites that stoke your dislike for Apple.

I have a house full of Apple products but unlike others that doesn't cloud my judgement on objective events.

Apple is paying less for modems than they were before. Not sure how anyone could think of that as a loss for Apple or a win for Qualcomm. That’s just for starters....

They went from paying $0 in the billions of royalties they owed Qualcomm, a company they accused of unscrupulous business practices and even witness tampering, to tethering themselves to that same company for six years. You need a special type of rose-colored glasses to see that as a win.[/QUOTE]

 

[cmaier]

Yep, buy the technology, hire the same people that worked on it, and expect it to be better. Don't see that in any way.

RF technology is not like designing CPUs, there is an art to it. Let's hope money hoarding Cook properly funds the acquisition of better people than those who worked on the original Intel tech.

This is nonsense. There’s no more art to rf technology than to CPU technology. There’s an art to both, and much overlap. Said by someone who has worked on both.

 

[MacBH928]

If Intel, the biggest baddest CPU manufacturer on planet earth, couldn't make this modem thing work... I doubt Apple could.

 

[cmaier]

If Intel, the biggest baddest CPU manufacturer on planet earth, couldn't make this modem thing work... I doubt Apple could.

Why? Intel hasn’t made CPUs work in quite awhile either. (Look at how far behind their roadmap they have slipped in the last 5 years).

Compare that to Apple, which makes the CPUs with the best performance per watt by far.

 

[realtuner]

I have a house full of Apple products but unlike others that doesn't cloud my judgement on objective events.

You owning Apple products has nothing to do with the truthfulness (or lack of) of statements you make. It’s a logical fallacy and one of the “oldest tricks in the book”.

They went from paying $0 in the billions of royalties they owed Qualcomm, a company they accused of unscrupulous business practices and even witness tampering, to tethering themselves to that same company for six years. You need a special type of rose-colored glasses to see that as a win.

Wrong again. Apple has always stated they owed Qualcomm for royalties that they stopped paying. Apple has NEVER said they owed Qualcomm $0 (as you imply). Apple claimed the rates were too high and said on several occasions they were withholding payments until the court decides the actual royalty rate owed.

Qualcomm publicly stated Apple owed $7 billion in withheld royalty payments. It was widely believed the settlement had Apple paying $5-6 billion to Qualcomm. When Qualcomm released their earnings report a few weeks later that figure was revised to around $4.5-5 billion based on what Qualcomm declared. Given the previous $1 billion judgment in favor of Apple it now looks like Apple saved ANOTHER $1 billion in fees or $2 billion in total.


Do you have any facts to contribute, or does your argument simply revolve around “I own lots of Apple products so I’m right and you have rose-colored glasses so you’re wrong”?

 

[JessWinter]

It's not like they're just going to buy it and implement it as is. They have a plan.

I do hope so!
[doublepost=1564151230][/doublepost]

They don’t suck, what difference does it make if it’s 2% slower, also, blame bad providers for coverage, I have no problems whatsoever with my iPhone Xs.

And then again, Intel modem business is now Apples, they will have a first class modem ready before you know it.

Uhhh there have been tons of complaints ever since the Intel modems started making their way into the iPhone. They're just less reliable. That's a fact. But for MOST people it's not a huge issue if their network drops 5% more than usual.
[doublepost=1564151311][/doublepost]

Well I think that would be the point right? Try to make it better?

I do hope so!

 

[chucker23n1]

Uhhh there have been tons of complaints ever since the Intel modems started making their way into the iPhone. They're just less reliable. That's a fact. But for MOST people it's not a huge issue if their network drops 5% more than usual.

I've heard complaints, but compared to, say, the butterfly keyboard issue or iPhone 4's antennas, they seem pretty minor.

 

[justperry]

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.

The keyboard was acknowledged by Apple, it is widespread.

Some brands keep doing it. Some people want it.

Yes, but overall not many people do need one, I have no problem with a cellular option on a MacBook.

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.

Exactly, that's why it seems like only posters from the states are complaining.

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.

Yup, true.

 

[cube]

The keyboard was acknowledged by Apple, it is widespread.




Yes, but overall not many people do need one, I have no problem with a cellular option on a MacBook.



Exactly, that's why it seems like only posters from the states are complaining.



Yup, true.

Many times the cellular card can be replaced with an SSD.

 

[justperry]

Lol it isn't the provider when it worked fine with the Qualcomm modems.

So, American providers don't suck, I heard otherwise...

Many times the cellular card can be replaced with an SSD.

Not aware of that, nice option to have.

Uhhh there have been tons of complaints ever since the Intel modems started making their way into the iPhone. They're just less reliable. That's a fact. But for MOST people it's not a huge issue if their network drops 5% more than usual.

Most troubles with the modem were resolved within weeks/months, that was the time there was a lot of noise, now not so much.
The modem isn't as bad as some say it is, it's just a little less than their rival.

 

[blackcrayon]

Christ. More of these damn half a—— Intel modems. They’re just awful compared to Qualcomm. Oh well.

Apple has a lot of motivation and money to improve the tech though.

 

[justperry]

Qualcomm has good proof Intel had stolen its designs, now Apple has those designs.. ergo it has stolen designs from Qualcomm:

http://9to5mac.com/2018/09/25/qualcomm-apple-stole-source-code/



I live in Europe and I know my XR with Intel modem performs worst, it is NOT my carrier, and I know others have had the same issues as they post stating that on this forum, your defending Apple and Intel for something that’s widespread and proven on tests, the Intel modems drop signals more then Qualcomm modems.

It isn't as bad as some say, those people might have a (partly) faulty phone, bad antenna, tin foil around the phone..( JK).
I know it's not as good as the qualcomm modem (Not a huge difference), but not crap as some say here.

There was a comparison test with a Galaxy, Intel wasn't far off.

 

[cmaier]

So, American providers don't suck, I heard otherwise...



Not aware of that, nice option to have.





Most troubles with the modem were resolved within weeks/months, that was the time there was a lot of noise, now not so much.
The modem isn't as bad as some say it is, it's just a little less than their rival.

Agreed. I was complaining as loudly as anyone on here at first. After a few iOS updates, though, things got to the point where I don’t see much difference, and only in a few places. Of course, if you live and work in a spot where there is a meaningful difference, still sucks.

 

[DeepIn2U]

This makes the most sense. Apple is the perfect fit for this acquisition. I can see the 5G modem being integrated into the system on a chip in a few years. This will result in superior speed and energy efficiency while keeping the price low. That kind of advantage is something even Qualcomm won't be able to rival.

Lmao. You do realize Qualcomm makes cpus right?! Absolutely they can do this and have begun trying a few years now. They maybe ahead of the competition.

 

[AEWest]

It's hard to blame the provider when an iPhone XS Max with an Intel modem sitting next to an iPhone 7 with a Qualcomm modem gets 1/2 the reception on the exact same provider.

I agree - the Intel modem is definitely inferior particularly in less densely populated areas. One reviewer whose primary phone is the XS and reviewed a Qualcomm fitted s10 was shocked at how much better the reception was - and he lives in a smaller community outside San Fransisco.

In Europe, because of the much higher population density and hence more cell towers closer together, not as much of an issue.

 

[JessWinter]

I've heard complaints, but compared to, say, the butterfly keyboard issue or iPhone 4's antennas, they seem pretty minor.

Check out Brandon Butch on YouTube. I swear he's been having major issues with each phone with regards to the modems. Luckily, he has a voice. Most consumers blame their carriers.