Oliver Haslam on June 12, 2019, 8:29 pm

Apple Negotiating Acquisition Of Intel’s Modem Business For 5G iPhone

Apple is said to be keen on picking up a very specific part of Intel’s smartphone modem business, according to a new report by The Information.

Intel recently confirmed that it was exiting the consumer modem market after it was confirmed that Apple and Qualcomm had agreed a multi-year deal.

Despite that deal, Apple continues to want to design its own modems, just as it does the A-line of processors that power the iPhone and iPad. To do that, it’s reported that Apple is in talks to buy the German arm of Intel’s modem division which was previously part of Infineon. Intel picked it up for $1.4 billion back in 2011, and it’s the same team that previously made iPhone baseband chips between 2007 and 2010.

Intel isn’t saying much, other than confirming that there has been interest in its modem operations. “We have hired outside advisers to help us assess strategic options for our wireless 5G phone business,” an Intel spokesperson reportedly said. “We have created value both in our portfolio of wireless modem products and in our intellectual property. We have received significant interest in the business but have nothing more to say at this time.”

The Information notes that if this deal does get finalized, it will include both patents and products, citing unnamed sources. It’s also presumed that hundreds of engineers will also then be on Apple’s books, adding to its already impressive team.

There are no guarantees with deals like this, and with this one having been in the world since late last year there is still the chance all that work could come to ought. We’ll see how this one pans out.

(Source: The Information)