Intel to bow out of smartphone-modem business

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With Apple and Qualcomm working out its differences and settling their lawsuits, Intel is effectively out of the picture. And now that it isn’t developing its 5G chipsets, it seems the company wants out of its smartphone-modem business as well. Apple was considering buying part of Intel’s modem ventures, but that deal was stopped short when Apple and Qualcomm signed a multi-year chipset-supply deal. That doesn’t mean the company hasn’t expressed interest in buying this segment from Intel. According to The Wall Street Journal, a few other companies are looking at buying said business. Goldman Sachs is helping Intel facilitate negotiations. The deal is most likely worth a few billion dollars, but it’s in its early stages for now. The company is reportedly losing around US$1 billion annually because of its modem business, so the sale could include staff, patents, and modem designs across multiple technology generaitons.

Apple rumoured to be releasing first 5G phone in 2020

A new report from Fast Company suggests Apple is working on launching its first 5G-enabled phone in 2020. This next-generation cellular networking technology promises to bring faster download speeds for consumers and hardware makers have been working hard to get products ready for its arrival. Apple already has FCC approval to experiment with 5G last year, giving them room to work on a 5G phone. According to “a source with knowledge of Apple’s plans,” the said phone will be out in 2020.

While Apple has had its fair share of issues with Intel, the report claims Apple will be using Intel’s 8161 5G modem chip. However, said chip still has some issues to sort out, particularly when it comes to heat dissipation and its effect on battery life. Apple is rumoured to also be talking to MediaTek as a “Plan B.” Apple hasn’t commented on the report.

Intel shuts down its smart glasses initiative

You may or may not have heard of Intel’s smart glasses project but what you need to know about it now is that it won’t be around anymore. The company is shutting down its New Devices Group and will stop development of the Vaunt. This closure might also result in “some layoffs” from the team which reportedly has around 200 people. It wasn’t clear what how Intel intended to bring the augmented reality glasses to the market but sources claim Intel wanted to partner with a company with retail expertise to get this off the ground. As Vaunt lead Jerry Bautista told The Verge, the company was “working with key ecosystem hardware providers—whether they’re frames or lenses and things like that. Because we believe there’s a whole channel to people who wear glasses that’s already there.” But it might be the company wasn’t able to find a suitable partner for this, thus resulting in the closure.

Here is Intel’s statement on the matter: “Intel is continuously working on new technologies and experiences. Not all of these develop into a product we choose to take to market. The Superlight [the codename for Vaunt] project is a great example where Intel developed truly differentiated, consumer augmented reality glasses. We are going to take a disciplined approach as we keep inventing and exploring new technologies, which will sometimes require tough choices when market dynamics don’t support further investment.”

Apple reported to drop Intel as chipmaker as early as 2020 to use its own silicon

Two giants: Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Intel CEO Paul Otellini join forces in 2005 to bring Intel chips to the Mac ecosystemBy Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple and its Mac computers have long been held back by the features and availability of Intel chipsets which are being used in MacBooks as well as iMacs. Apple has found great success with custom silicon, even acquiring various processor chipmakers like Intrinsity and Passif to help development of their A series processors used in iPhones and iPads, news from Bloomberg Technology hints that Apple will shift from Intel to its own chips in laptops and desktops by 2020.

The news, which affected Intel shares and caused a sudden drop by 9.2 per cent, even if Apple only makes up 5 per cent of Intel's processor business. Apple and Intel got into an exclusive partnership in 2005 when IBM's PowerPC processors were hitting a threshold in performance. It took Apple a year to make the transition and it never looked back, until now.

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