Apple is already developing its own CPU cores and graphics units for iPhone chips. Now it's the modem's turn.
Without a cellular modem, the iPhone cannot connect to the outside world. In recent years, Qualcomm has been the main supplier of communication chips. The collaboration with the chip manufacturer was terminated due to a patent war ended. Apple believes that Qualcomm is charging far too high licensing fees - the semiconductor manufacturer is abusing its market power - according to Apple. That is why the company has made chip manufacturer Intel its main supplier.
The news agency Reuters is now reporting on an expansion of chip development at Apple. According to the report, Cupertino is said to have undertaken an internal restructuring. The department responsible for purchasing iPhone modems has been placed under the chip design group. Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Srouji has been heading the group since January - according to Reuters. Apple informed Intel in December that the collaboration would end in 2020. In addition, there have been job advertisements for some time now that Apple is looking for specialists in mobile communications systems. These are to be employed in an office in San Diego.