2023-12-05 16:45:22
In order to have 5G modems for its iPhones, Apple had to bury the hatchet with Qualcomm, its current supplier. Because of this setback, the first 5G iPhone only arrived in the fall of 2020, while Samsung offered its first 5G smartphone in the first half of 2019. Today, Apple continues to source 5G modems from from Qualcomm, but at the same time, the firm is trying to design its own components to no longer depend on this company.
Anticiper la 6G
To achieve this objective, the Cupertino company has also bought a specialized branch of Intel to 1 billion dollars. Despite all its efforts, Apple still does not have its own modems to this day. And rumors even suggested, recently, that the firm was on the verge of giving up.
But for his part, journalist Mark Gurman (Bloomberg), who is one of the most respected sources of leaks in the industry, only indicates that Apple “is focusing more attention on 6G, even if it is working on a 5G cellular modem”. In other words, Apple would not have completely abandoned its 5G plans. But at the same time, it already anticipates the arrival of 6G.
A revealing announcement
In his article, Gurman relies on a job offer published by Apple on November 17. In it, the firm indicates that it is looking for a “modem systems software architect”. And this job description explicitly mentions the 5G successor:
“As a cellular platform architect, you will lead and coordinate the design and modeling of a 6G reference architecture. An appropriate set of prototype implementations and reference architecture models should be developed to enable the evaluation of candidate technologies and use cases. In this role, you will plan, lead and actively participate in these modeling and prototyping activities. You will collaborate cross-functionally with research and development teams to propose, plan and implement simulations and experiments to evaluate 6G technology candidates!”
Apple should be better prepared in 2030
However, it is important to clarify that 6G will not arrive for a long time. For the moment, we don’t even know what speed we will have on 6G. On the other hand, LG, which is also working on this technology, explained that discussions on standardization will begin in 2025. Marketing should begin in 2029. In any case, when this revolution arrives, Apple should be better prepared than when it was launched. arrival of 5G.
Apple has expanded its partnership with Qualcomm
Otherwise, it should be noted that for the moment, Apple is not yet ready to free itself from Qualcomm and continues to need the latter’s 5G modems. In September, Qualcomm announced an extension of the partnership with Apple for the supply of 5G modems for smartphones in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
- According to Mark Gurman, Apple continues to work on its own 5G modems (contrary to what other sources indicate), but it is increasingly focusing on 6G
- His plans are revealed in a recent job posting, for a modem systems software architect position
- Today, Apple uses 5G modems from Qualcomm (with which it had to bury the hatchet) and this partnership has been extended until 2026
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