apple
For years, Apple has wanted to replicate its success with processors that power its cellular modems. The company spent $1 billion to buy Intel’s modem technology in 2019, and since then it’s taken only a year or two to replace a Qualcomm modem in a new iPhone, and a year or two. It was only two years away (the 2021 and 2022 timelines are allegedly gone, and Qualcomm seems to think so). 2023 is not that year either).
Bloomberg reports that the company plans to buck these setbacks and expand its wireless ambitions to include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Apple hopes to include these chips in new products from 2025, with the ultimate goal of combining Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular modem functionality into a single chip. is.
For years, Apple has relied on Broadcom chipsets for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity in all of its products. Even when the Mac used his Intel processor, Apple refused to use or support the Intel Wi-Fi and Bluetooth products that are prevalent in most other laptops. Apple and Broadcom last signed his three-and-a-half-year supply deal in early 2020, which would have valued him at $15 billion. Apple is also said to be working on separate RF and wireless charging chips to replace parts supplied by Broadcom.
Apple already has some experience with wireless chips beyond working behind the scenes with cellular modems. The W1, W2, and W3 processors are all used in various AirPods and Apple Watch to provide Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and support additional features beyond the standard Bluetooth specification.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple now plans to ship its first 5G modems “by the end of 2024 or early 2025.” Qualcomm has said he expects revenue from the iPhone to be “minimal” by 2025, suggesting Qualcomm is betting on a similar timeline. Some iPhones can use Apple modems, and others may continue to use Qualcomm modems. Apple used a mix of Intel and Qualcomm modems in several generations of iPhones before it fully acquired Intel’s modem business.
