Is Apple planning to acquire Intel's mobile business?

July 23, 2019 // By Christoph Hammerschmidt, Smart2.0

According to media reports, there are increasing signs that Apple will acquire the mobile division of chipmaker Intel. A deal as early as this week is considered possible.

According to US media reports, Apple is currently negotiating the purchase of Intel’s mobile modem division. It is said that the talks are already well advanced. Apple is not only interested in patents and technologies from Intel, but would also take over employees of the chip giant. This would enable Apple to develop its own 5G radio modems.

For the first generation of its iPhones, Apple had used modem chips from Infineon, but had switched to chips from competitor Qualcomm in 2011 - although it was not a happy relationship: Apple and Qualcomm had long and intense patent disputes, which were occupied the courts. Also in 2011, Intel had taken over Infineon's mobile business and its then manager Hermann Eul. Against the background of the dispute with Qualcomm, Apple has been using modem chips from Intel since 2016 and thus the Infineon technology, which has been further developed in the meantime.

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