IANS | 23 Jul, 2019
Apple which is looking to buy Intel's modem division since last year is
reportedly in "advanced stage" to strike a deal for $1 billion.
It was reported last month that the Cupertino-based iPhone maker is in talks to buy part of Intel's modem business.
The
latest report in Wall Street Journal details that an agreement "could
be reached in the next week" if the talks don't fall apart, reports
TechCrunch.
Apple has been working on its own chips for quite
some time. Acquiring Intel's technology could help the iPhone maker
accelerate its plans.
Intel on April 16 said it plans to cease
working on modems for 5G, the next-generation of wireless technology
expected to supercharge mobile connections.
Intel confirmed that
the "surprise" settlement between Qualcomm and Apple - once pitted
against each other over patent violation issues -- pushed it to exit the
mobile 5G race.
"In light of the announcement of Apple and
Qualcomm, we assessed the prospects for us to make money while
delivering this technology for smartphones and concluded at the time
that we just did not see a path," said Bob Swan, Intel CEO.
Apple
may have paid chip-maker Qualcomm somewhere between $5 billion-$6
billion for an agreement to dismiss all ongoing litigations, including
those with Apple's contract manufacturers.
Intel had been working on a chipset for the iPhone maker, with the chip expected to be part of iPhones by 2020.
