Re:Apple Debuts iPhone 16e
by londons_explore on Wednesday February 19, 2025 @11:08PM
(#43110991)
Patents are the main thing here.
Building a cellular modem, complete with working protocol stack, entirely in software has been done as a 1 person open source project.
Making a production -ready modem is clearly more complex, but far from hard for a company with the resources of Apple.
However, doing so whilst not violating any of qualcomms huge array of patents is the real challenge.
I'm willing to bet that the release date of this phone probably closely aligns with the expiry date of a patent they couldn't work around.
Patents are the dumbest thing on the planet.
Where do you draw the line for protection of innovative ideas?
Re:Apple Debuts iPhone 16e
by ikekkdcjkfke on Thursday February 20, 2025 @10:25AM
(#43115806)
There might be someone in government right now willing to flush obvious software patents
Seems like the difficult part is doing that effectively while avoiding IP issues -- patents on software and math have entrenched Qualcomm's dominance.
Imagine if all of the IP for ML or AI were held by a single company that got the regulating body (ITU/3GPP) to require their use. Makes a mockery of FRAND terms.