Qualcomm win shows just how important future of iPhone is for Apple 

“If you’re going to bring a device in 2020, you’re definitely going to be late for 5G,” Qualcomm’s Jim Tran h said at CES in January. Many argued this was a subtle jibe at Apple. Cuperti major h concrete plans to launch a 5G-rey iPhone until January – it is still holding its cards close to chest. We do t kw when Apple will launch a 5G-rey iPhone – but we w kw a 5G-rey iPhone might just be around corner anytime soon. , possibly t in 2019, but 2020 iPhones could support 5G connectivity. Because y ought to. 

In a surprising turn of events, Apple and Qualcomm have reached a settlement, ending two years of legal dispute. “ settlement includes a payment from Apple to Qualcomm,” and in aftermath, two companies have reached “a six-year license agreement, effective as of April 1, 2019, including a two-year option to extend, and a multiyear chipset supply agreement.”           

Did Apple just bend knee to Qualcomm? After years of fighting Qualcomm, alleging that chip-maker was (mis)using its dominant position in market to charge exorbitant fees for its tech – modem and rest – Apple just gave in. Hours later, Intel came up and anunced, it was quitting 5G modem market for smartphones – it was supposed to be making one for Apple. That’s when things started to get clearer. 

future of iPhone was in jeopardy. At a time when arch rivals Samsung (world number 1) and Huawei (world number 3) h alrey boarded 5G bandwagon, Apple was tottering. It h two options – play stubborn card and let things go way y were or step up and do what any trillion-dollar company would do. former wasn’t really an option though - iPhone sales are at an all-time low. But we’ve seen legacy brands going down that ro of self-destruction before, which is why I put it up re. Luckily for many Apple loyalists, Apple chose latter. 

iPhone can’t be a flagship product with yesterday’s tech – it needs to be future-proof

It chose to compromise. Because it h choice, but more because, Apple is one of few tech companies with a long-term vision. Apple is a tech company that wants to be re for years and years from w, and it can’t be re without its flagship product – iPhone. 

And iPhone can’t be a flagship product with yesterday’s tech – it needs to be future-proof. Like it has always been. But over last couple of years, momentum has shifted – rivals have caught on, and in some cases, y’ve even beaten Apple. 5G is a classic example. Even though 5G is still in nascent st, it won’t be long before it becomes gold standard – it will be gold standard in days to come. Apple might t have been re at start, but it would most definitely want to be re soon eugh.  

Which is where it would require Qualcomm’s technical expertise – settlement gives Apple just right amount of ammo to kickstart proceedings. At least, until time it reies its own 5G modem. 

It’s secret that Apple is getting serious about building its own modem. After years of reliance on Qualcomm and n Intel, Apple has finally started ramping up its in-house modem chip engineering efforts by reallocating its resources into its hardware techlogy division under stewardship of Johny Srouji. Previously, all this was part of Apple’s supply chain unit. 

Srouji joined Apple in 2008 and has since been leing Cuperti’s chip design efforts. Srouji is tably face behind Apple’s home-grown A-series processors that power company’s iPhones as well as iPs, as well as custom chip inside its truly wireless AirPods. He has been leing company’s modem chip designing efforts since January, according to a Reuters report. 

Moreover, Apple also seems to be on a hiring spree for modem engineers in Qualcomm’s backyard, San Diego. 

Apple might have started getting serious about building its own modem but going by its penchant for quality, it would be sometime before we start seeing something constructive from company. Apple is kwn to take its time at doing things on its own terms and conditions focusing on quality rar than on quantity. It might t be first to do things but as and when it does, it is usually expected finished product would speak for itself. 

Qualcomm holds edge when it comes to patents, and Apple will really have to go extra mile to stand apart – as it would. But for w and until n, bending knee doesn’t seem like a b idea.

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