02.01.2024
Apple has extended its modem chip licensing agreement with Qualcomm through March 2027, Qualcomm said today during its first earnings call of 2024. Apple's existing agreement has now been extended
Apple has been working on developing its own 5G modem chip in-house for the last several years. The technology would keep it from having to rely on Qualcomm for 5G chips, but Apple's progress has seen several delays.
In November 2023, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple's work on a modem chip had been postponed until late 2025 or 2026, and it is possible it could see further delays. Apple was initially aiming to have an Apple-designed modem chip ready to go by 2024, but it missed that target. The company then wanted to introduce the modem chip in an iPhone SE that would launch in spring 2025, but it will not be able to make that goal either.
In an also not surprising development, on the @Qualcomm call, it was mentioned:
— Ben Bajarin (@BenBajarin) January 31, 2024
"Apple exercised its unilateral option to extend its global patent license agreement for an additional two years, taking the existing agreement through to March 2027"
Gurman said at the time that Apple was "years away" from creating a chip that is able to perform as well or better than chips from Qualcomm.
Apple has reportedly run into issues with the Intel code that it has been using from its acquisition of Intel's modem chip business. Apple has had to rewrite code, and adding new features has caused existing features to break. Apple also has to avoid infringing on Qualcomm's patents during its modem development.
The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models set to be released in 2024 are rumored to be using Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 modem with improved carrier aggregation, and a more power efficient transceiver.
This article, "Apple Extends Modem Licensing Deal With Qualcomm Through March 2027" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
You may also be interested in this
Wired wag: ‘Apple’s Visio…
06.08.2023
A Wired wag will “bet everything that Apple’s Vision Pro will flop,” calling it ” a rare misfire” and an “unavoidable failure.” Apple Vision Pro: Apple’s first spatial computer Kate
Microsoft’s new ‘Copilot’…
09.04.2024
Microsoft and its partners launched Copilot+ PCs this spring, featuring AI-powered capabilities like generating images and videos. These new laptops deviate from the traditional Intel-powered architecture that has dominated Microsoft
Apple’s In-House 5G…
11.16.2023
Apple is continuing to run into troubles in its attempt to develop a 5G modem to replace Qualcomm's 5G modems in the iPhone and other products, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
With iPhone divorce in fu…
05.03.2023
Qualcomm is counting down the days to when it loses Apple as a modem customer, guiding weak for Q3 as orders slow.Qualcomm may lose Apple's businessThe second quarter results for
Qualcomm’s potential purc…
09.23.2024
Analysts have expressed concerns about Qualcomm’s potential acquisition of Intel. While such a deal could diversify Qualcomm’s business, it would also involve taking on Intel’s loss-making semiconductor manufacturing unit. Turning
Apple touts multibillion-…
05.23.2023
Illustration: The Verge Apple has signed on to a multiyear, multibillion-dollar agreement with Broadcom, a chipmaker based in the US. The company announced the news on Tuesday, saying it will
iPhone 17 Pro Max Teardow…
09.19.2025
While the iPhone Air is equipped with Apple's custom C1X modem for cellular connectivity, all of the iPhone 17 models are outfitted with Qualcomm modems still. A teardown shared on
Apple sticks with Qualcom…
09.20.2025
A new teardown confirms the iPhone 17 Pro lineup still relies on Qualcomm’s modem, using the Snapdragon X80 baseband for mobile connectivity. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for
