Apple is said to be working on a chip for the iPhone that has various capabilities, from starting as a cellular modem, WiFi, to Bluetooth.
They are also said to have developed their own chip which will replace the WiFI and Bluetooth chips from Broadcom currently in use. The self-made chip is said to be put into use starting in 2025.
While the 5G modem for the iPhone made by Apple is said to be available in late 2024 or early 2025. Apple's intention to make its own modem to replace the Qualcomm modem used has been around for a long time, but has not been able to materialize until now.
In fact, to realize this intention, Apple acquired Intel's modem division in 2019.
Qualcomm itself, when reporting Q4 2022 financial performance, then said that it estimated that many of its 5G modems would be used in iPhones in 2023.
After that, Apple will use its own custom modem in one product, and then make a transition across all of its product lines within a span of three years.
Qualcomm itself still believes that orders for 5G modems for iPhone will increase by 20% in 2023 compared to previous predictions, we were quoted as saying from The Verge, Tuesday (10/1/2023).
Previously, it was reported that Qualcomm was the reason Apple's 5G modem development was hampered.
The cancellation of the production of the 5G modem is not because Apple failed to design the modem. Instead, there was a problem with Qualcomm's patents that prevented Apple from completing the development of the modem.
This seems to have something to do with Apple's defeat at the Green Table, where Apple tried to invalidate two of Qualcomm's patents and the request was rejected by a judge.
Apple and Qualcomm have been at odds for years. There are those whose problems have been resolved, but there are also those who are still continuing at the Green Table. Apple CEO Tim Cook also complained about this Qualcomm problem in an interview with CNBC.
"The problem we have with Qualcomm is that they have a no chip without license rule. This, in our view, is illegal. And then secondly, they have an obligation to offer their portfolio in a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory manner, and they don't do anything that. They set a very high price," said Cook.