Re:Apple in Advanced Talks to Buy Intel’s Smartphone-Modem C...
by londons_explore on Tuesday July 23, 2019 @08:40AM
(#20506230)
If apple buys the modem division, they'll be integrating the modem into the SoC. It will be an advanced process node and they won't be scared of using more silicon area to get more performance. By being on the same SoC, they might combine the application and baseband CPU's into one too using something like trustzone.
Cheapo android handset makers wouldn't be able to afford the resulting silicon - it'll be too expensive due to the large area. It'll also likely diverge from the way everyone else builds modems - no more AT commands!
I don't think it makes a ton of sense for Apple to resell their A-series CPUs, but 4G modems is a little different, they're more generic. If they manage to make good modems why wouldn't they sell them to others? The people buying iPhones won't switch to an Android device, just because it's the same modem.