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Future iPhones Could Have Apple-Designed Cellular Modems, But Possibly Not Until 2021
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It slows down to Edge data speeds when your iPhone is old though so be careful what you wish for 
"We've learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone. PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They're not going to just walk in." - Ed Colligan, Palm CEO, 2006
"There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance," - Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, 2007
Things do not look so good for Intel longer term (most Android firms use Qualcomm and people are just ending buying PC's and using Smartphones and their Apps to what they need). Modem production was looking like a good business for them from Apple but will almost certainly end in a couple of years.
No, Qualcomm's SEP licensing is based on a percentage of the phone cost, which is the root of the Apple dispute. Intel doesn't pay Qualcomm to begin with, the phone manufacturer does. There's nothing (yet) in patent law that says you can't do that.
Some other technologies are licensed based on the "finished product". It may be cheaper, for example, HDMI only charges the same fee regardless of how many ports, cables, or whatever you put in the TV box. The individual component manufacturers don't pay, only the end product brand does.
That would be illegal from an anti-trust standpoint. SEPs are required to be licensed under "fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory" terms. If Qualcomm charged less for their own chips, it would be a discriminatory licensing practice.
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...but until 2021 we're stuck with subpar Intel modems
Just picked you, no offence but I don't get this sentiment, I have an Xs, I have no trouble with the speeds nor connection, but then again, I don't live in the states with it's crappy networks.
They are being investigated for this and have been fined in some countries for anti-trust price fixing.
Certainly, Qualcomm has a tremendous amount of expertise in the wireless modem space, and even though Apple is not currently recognized a modem expert, I can see them possibly succeeding in this area.
I base this assumption on what Apple has done with its Bluetooth W1 chips. Yea yea yea, before some clown says it, I know Apple's W1 is significantly less complicated than a modem chip. Even though I hate to do it, I will give Apple credit for their W1 efforts. I wish my Bose wireless headset had an Apple W1 chip. Anyway, time will tell on their modem efforts.
I base this assumption on what Apple has done with its Bluetooth W1 chips. Yea yea yea, before some clown says it, I know Apple's W1 is significantly less complicated than a modem chip. Even though I hate to do it, I will give Apple credit for their W1 efforts. I wish my Bose wireless headset had an Apple W1 chip. Anyway, time will tell on their modem efforts.
Well, that's also good in a way. Competition is good. Intel has become a near monopoly on the desktop/server/datacenter CPU market.
Not necessarily true.
You have hardware patents and software patent.
Manufacturers typically only pay for hardware license and then pass the software license fee required to make the hardware work, off to the buyer. They build a fully capable modem (it's actually cheaper that way), and let the buyer enabled what functions they need.
This is fairly typical as each buyer decides what modem functions they need. Those are controlled by the software side (firmware).
If Apple builds their own modems, they will be responsible for paying for both. Why? They will still be required to use some of the SEP patents if they want their modems to function correctly with industry standards.
Intel does in fact pay Qualcomm a license for some of the modems physical build requirements. (Hardware design patents).
No one can build a standards compliant modem without paying SEP fees to all relevant patent holders.
That fee could be passed onto the buyer of the modem (phone manufacturer), but Intel still has to get a license.
The software license (modem firmware) is what typically gets passed onto the phone builder as the builder determines what modem functions they wish to enable in the firmware.
Qualcomm has such a tight noose around Apple's neck, I hope Apple will last until 2021. Each time Apple tries to make a move, Qualcomm is standing in the way. It will also be that way when Apple uses its own modem and Qualcomm claims Apple is violating some Qualcomm patent. It's somewhat amazing how Qualcomm is beating up on Apple so badly despite being a much smaller company. It may be because Qualcomm serves a much larger customer/client base than Apple. It looks like another no-win game for Apple if we can base it on the current iPhone ban in China.
Why didn't Apple ever come out with any useful patents that other companies can't copy? It seems whatever Apple does, Chinese Android manufacturers are able to copy it within a few months and Apple can't do anything about it.
Why didn't Apple ever come out with any useful patents that other companies can't copy? It seems whatever Apple does, Chinese Android manufacturers are able to copy it within a few months and Apple can't do anything about it.
I do live in the States and my Xs Max has great speed and connections. Just picked your post. No offense.
Trying to become? It already behaves as a monopolist. It should be stomped on by the regulators and courts.
Just like Intel, Apple will need to license patents from Qualcomm.
You can't do cellular or WiFi without paying Qualcomm. They invented fundamental algorithms needed.
It may be less than they are paying, but they are going to pay.