The upcoming launchof 5G this year
will mark a significant step forward for the telecommunications industry. But
it’s looking like Apple will stay on the sidelines for at least this year, if
not longer. Bloomberg and Nikkei have reported
that Apple expects to release its first 5G phone in 2020 — but that even
delivering it by then may be a stretch.
will mark a significant step forward for the telecommunications industry. But
it’s looking like Apple will stay on the sidelines for at least this year, if
not longer. Bloomberg and Nikkei have reported
that Apple expects to release its first 5G phone in 2020 — but that even
delivering it by then may be a stretch.
As reported by CNET’s Shara Tibken,
Apple and Qualcomm recently settled their court battle over patent licensing
and reached a multiyear licensing and chipset supply agreement. And it may have
been Apple’s interest in 5G chips that convinced it to compromise, according to
analysts. A Nikkei report says the company had tested Qualcomm 5G chips as the companies
explored a settlement.
Apple and Qualcomm recently settled their court battle over patent licensing
and reached a multiyear licensing and chipset supply agreement. And it may have
been Apple’s interest in 5G chips that convinced it to compromise, according to
analysts. A Nikkei report says the company had tested Qualcomm 5G chips as the companies
explored a settlement.
Apple’s most recent phones — the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR —
all use modems built by Intel, which had previously announced plans for a 5G
modem ready for commercial devices in the second half of 2019, with broader deployment set for2020. But recent reports suggested that the company’s
5G technology would not be ready until 2021. Hours after Apple and Qualcomm
settled, Intel announced it would exit the 5G phone modembusiness and is exploring the possibility of
selling its modem chip business to Apple or another company, according to the Wall Street Journal.
all use modems built by Intel, which had previously announced plans for a 5G
modem ready for commercial devices in the second half of 2019, with broader deployment set for2020. But recent reports suggested that the company’s
5G technology would not be ready until 2021. Hours after Apple and Qualcomm
settled, Intel announced it would exit the 5G phone modembusiness and is exploring the possibility of
selling its modem chip business to Apple or another company, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Qualcomm makes the modem that will power thefirst wave of 5G phones, slated to arrive later in 2019. After years as a Qualcomm
customer, Appledumped the company in 2018 over a legal dispute. Before the recent
reconciliation, analysts wondered whether Apple might turn to Samsung for a 5G
modem or buy and retool Intel’s modem business. Now that the Qualcomm
relationship has been rekindled, Apple’s plans and timing for a 5G phone remain
unclear.
customer, Appledumped the company in 2018 over a legal dispute. Before the recent
reconciliation, analysts wondered whether Apple might turn to Samsung for a 5G
modem or buy and retool Intel’s modem business. Now that the Qualcomm
relationship has been rekindled, Apple’s plans and timing for a 5G phone remain
unclear.