Since Apple first retired the PowerPC chips on its Mac line in lieu of Intel's Core series, the two companies have gradually been becoming more and more friendly toward each other. If the latest rumours are true, they might be forging a path toward an even stronger relationship.
A team of over 1,000 engineers at Intel is apparently hard at work tailoring its 7360 LTE modem to work with the upcoming iPhone 7. The company's goal is to either displace Qualcomm as the sole supplier of iPhone modems or, at least, come to an arrangement with Apple dual-sourcing the modem in its upcoming smartphones.
The Cupertino based company already has a history of using modems from Infineon before it was bought by Intel, opening the way for Qualcomm to become the only supplier for iPhone modems. A return to Intel's products will not only allow Apple to meet demand adequately but also integrate the modem and the processor on one SoC, leading to a much smaller and more efficient solution.
The company has already started dual-sourcing the production of the A9 SoC found in the current iPhone 6S and 6S Plus following some controversy regarding the delta in battery life between the two chips. As such, it remains to be seen if it really is the wise choice to do the same for the LTE modem, which is arguably one of the most battery intensive components in the phone.
Via: The Verge
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