Apple considering $1bn Intel modem business deal, says WSJ

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Talks are at an advanced stage, and a buyout could be agreed as soon as next week.

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Sure there might be a modem business inside Intel somewhere, but hopefully Apple aren't buying a whole stack of paper launches and badly mocked up graphics of silicon.

I mean I won't have a problem with Apple paying $1bn for a whole heap of...

If it frees Apple from Qualcomm as well as provides a patent portfolio and brings the design team in-house it would be a wise investment to make. Considering Apple have to essentially rework the Qualcomm modem designs to work with their own in-house ARM derived designs, it saves them that issue and potentially gives them more flexibility in their own designs. They already have the SoC in-house including graphics, so this makes sense.

I wonder which display producing company they'll eye their sights on....

It also means they can save PCB space by not needing a separate modem, and potentially power efficiency in the process.

Seems a lot of money for a failed business that didn't seem capable of 5G.

I wonder if they really just want the patent portfolio to beat Qualcomm with.

Didn't Intel buy up a load of smaller RF companies to form their own business though? Depending on what sort of influence Intel had, the talent, existing portfolios, etc may be worth buying for Apple.

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Originally Posted by DanceswithUnix

Seems a lot of money for a failed business that didn't seem capable of 5G.

I wonder if they really just want the patent portfolio to beat Qualcomm with.

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Intel seems to have some real problems with making the rubber actually meet the road when it comes to turning talent and resources into green stuff. I suspect they have all the pieces, they just can't make the damn jigsaw.

If Apple can put the bits together, it could be a solid investment. To be honest, if this department is burning through a billion a year, I'd just let Intel keep it. Probably better to let your competition keep wasting their money...

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Originally Posted by Iota

If it frees Apple from Qualcomm as well as provides a patent portfolio and brings the design team in-house it would be a wise investment to make. Considering Apple have to essentially rework the Qualcomm modem designs to work with their own in-house ARM derived designs, it saves them that issue and potentially gives them more flexibility in their own designs. They already have the SoC in-house including graphics, so this makes sense.

I wonder which display producing company they'll eye their sights on....

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Qualcomm have some of the most important patents on 5G there is no way Apple can ever be free from that which is why Apple lost and settled the court case.

What it does is give Apple a consolation prize in that it wont be utterly dependent on Qualcomm 5G modems even if it still has to pay royalties to Qualcomm. Plus trade spats with China is no doubt making Apple nervous about using any other 5G modems. It will stake years after acquisition before such an in-house modem could be deployed.

http://radiofreemobile.com/2019/07/15/5g-the-patent-game/

Technology companies are very intertwined WRT patents, but it doesn't mean there aren't advantages to developing in-house solutions and avoiding a monopoly market. If anyone has the lawyers and money to defend against a company trying to force a monopoly on the market, it's Apple.

Given its Apple, they might even be playing the long game and aiming for 6G.