iPhone 5G with an Apple modem closer to reality with a contract with Intel of a billion dollars

Apple is about to manufacture a 5G iPhone with its own modem thanks to the acquisition of a billion dollars from a majority of the market for modems for smartphones Intel. This is another way for Apple to exercise end-to-end control over its devices.

According to the official agreement announced today, approximately 2,200 Intel employees will join the Apple-Intel agreement, as well as intellectual property, equipment and contracts rent. In the end, Apple will hold 17,000 combined wireless technology patents.

Despite what you can read, TechRadar does not anticipate a 5G modem manufactured by Apple in the iPhone 11 or the iPhone 2020 – even the iPhone 2021 looks extravagant. This announcement marks the beginning of a monumental task for Apple.

There will almost certainly be an iPhone 5G in the meantime. After all, Apple has a six-year deal with 5G modems provider and chip maker Qualcomm. This is how the iPhone 2020 will give Apple enthusiasts a first glimpse of 5G speeds.

When will Apple launch an iPhone 5G?

With the news of today, Apple will be able to get rid of the Qualcomm modem that appears in many iPhones of the previous generation and speed up the development of its own 5G smartphone modem, which Intel had trouble to do by himself.

Currently, the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR are all equipped with 4G LTE technology with Intel modems, which should not change with the upcoming iPhone 11. Some models of IPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X are equipped with Qualcomm modem chips.

Apple and Qualcomm agreed to stop chasing each other in April (and Apple eventually had to pay Qualcomm a hefty multi-million dollar fine). The agreement today is probably more than a simple problem. Apple has a habit of integrating technology internally when it can – we are also expecting apple-based MacBook chips based on ARM arms in 2021.

A series of rumors about the iPhone 5G hints at the launch of the first iteration in 2020. And yet, this Apple-Intel deal will only be concluded by the fourth quarter of 2019, leaving Apple less than a year to transform an iPhone 5G modem.

This does not leave much time for Apple to develop its own modem, not to mention the 5G version that competes with the modem chip Qualcomm already present in the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. Therefore, it may still be necessary to use a modems license from Qualcomm.

We contacted Apple and Qualcomm to comment on the situation.