According to Apple: In other words, Intel will no longer be in the smartphone modem business, taking away one of the only competitors with any chance to rival Qualcomm’s efforts (Apple surely won’t be making modems for anyone else). Granted, Intel never had anywhere near the widespread use Qualcomm does – one of its few customers being Apple itself – but it makes for a less competitive marketplace. Intel’s CEO Bob Swan had this to say: We likely won’t be seeing a 5G iPhone based on Intel’s technology for a few years, but this move means Apple will have greater control over its hardware once the transition is complete. The company still relies on Qualcomm parts – and the first 5G iPhones will likely use Qualcomm modems, but today’s acquisition will make it easier for the company to transition out of that reliance. Apple already designs its own CPUs and GPUs on its mobile devices, and there are rumors the company is seeking to drop Intel’s desktop processors in favor of its own within a few years. That the company is looking to make its own cellular models too is just Apple being Apple.
