Apple is Designing iPhones and iPads for Next Year That Don't Use Qualcomm Modems [Report]

Apple is designing iPhones and iPads for next year that drop Qualcomm's components entirely, reports the WSJ. The two companies are in the midst of what will likely be a lengthy legal battle over Qualcomm's licensing practices.

A source tells WSJ that Apple is considering building future devices with modem chips from Intel and possibly MediaTek because Qualcomm has withheld software that is critical to testing its chips in Apple's prototypes. The company allegedly stopped sharing the software after Apple filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm in January.

Apple already uses modems from Intel in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, utilizing Qualcomm's for just the CDMA version; however, Intel has unveiled a new XMM7650 modem which supports Gigabit LTE, GSM and CDMA.


Qualcomm says its “modem that could be used in the next generation iPhone has already been fully tested and released to Apple.” Adding that it is “committed to supporting Apple’s new devices” as it does for others in the industry.

Back in January, Apple sued Qualcomm for allegedly withholding $1 billion in rebates because it complied with Korean regulators investigating Qualcomm. It has since expanded that lawsuit on the heels of a recent Supreme Court ruling, arguing that the license agreements that give Qualcomm a cut of every iPhone manufactured are invalid.

In June, a federal judge ruled that an FTC antitrust lawsuit against Qualcomm can proceed. In July, Qualcomm filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission alleging that Apple has infringed on six Qualcomm patents that 'enabled important features and functions in iPhones'.

More recently, Qualcomm was fined a record $773 million by Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission for antitrust violations. A few days later the company filed a lawsuit seeking to ban iPhone sales and manufacturing in China.


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