Things are definitely not good for the Intel. At least with regard to its dealings involving Apple, which is undoubtedly one of the chip giant's biggest customers.
I explain: In addition to an almost certain transition involving the chips that today equip the Macs (rumors that Apple will use its own processors on their computers, as it already does with smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc. even Intel already knows this), at some point in the future Ma will also start using own modems in their products.
As the project is still embryonic within the company, Intel today is Apple's big partner in this endeavor after all, the fight with Qualcomm is in full swing and doesn't seem to be resolved anytime soon. To give you an idea, Apple's newest handsets (iPhones XS, XS Max and XR) come with Intel modems.
That said, since 2017 we know that Apple is working with Intel on 5G modems for iPhones; In the latest news regarding the matter, the manufacturer stated that its 5G chip would hit the market in 2020. But things aren't going as plannedat least according to Fast company.
While company claims convey the idea that Intel is on schedule in the development of its 5G chip, Fast company She said she has missed the deadlines set for the XMM 8160 modem, according to an insider. And these alleged time delays (it needs to deliver parts to Apple by mid-2019 and the chip has to be ready by early 2020 so next year's iPhones can be launched with such a connection capability) would have soured. the relationship, making Ma lose confidence in partner.
Of course, Apple is not a saint in this story. According to the vehicle, it conditions its requests Intel's ability to develop and manufacture everything on time. In addition, it negotiates the values ​​a lot and does not leave much margin for Intel. And, to top it off, it still requires full priority over other customers.
Intel would have accepted the conditions for one simple reason: its chipmaking platforms are too expensive to build, it uses a 14-nanometer process for the 7560 modems used in the 2018 iPhones, but now it has to move to a 10nm process and then to a 7nm in order to keep up with the competition. Having Apple as an attractive customer is precisely the chance to keep the factory busy with huge orders of the same component for a customer list.
The problem that, as Ma demands priority, Intel must manufacture for it first, then leave its most lucrative contracts and this has generated some internal conflicts within the company.
Apple's own modem
At the same time, Apple is still working to launch its own modem; currently already between 1,000-1,200 engineers focused on creating this component, many of them coming from Intel and Qualcomm themselves, working at an Apple facility in San Diego.
Still according to Fast company, the development operation is increasing quite rapidly and we can see the 2021 iPhones already equipped with Ma designed modems and manufactured by TSMC or Samsung. But by 2020, however, Apple is in a pretty tight spot, she has even looked for alternatives like MediaTek and Samsung, but none have proven viable.
Undoubtedly, the best solution for Apple would be to have a healthy relationship with Qualcomm again; but as this is apparently not an option, we may have a lame Intel 5G modem on the iPhones of 2020 or even see Apple waiting a little longer to implement support for this new network (which is still in the early stages of development). , good to note) to 2021, with your own modem.
The right time
via 9to5Mac
