Apple:
Apple and Intel have signed an agreement for Apple to acquire the majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business. Approximately 2,200 Intel employees will join Apple, along with intellectual property, equipment and leases. The transaction, valued at $1 billion, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, including works council and other relevant consultations in certain jurisdictions.
Tech’s worst held secret is officially out. That sound you hear is Qualcomm yelling, “DAMMIT!”
Loved your quallcomm comment ?
“One billion dollars!”
Why that is 1/250 of Apple’s cash.
Did Tim just reach into the sofa cushions?
He has people for that.
2200 folks are about to gain a singular focus. Instead of chasing many customers there will be only one. It will make them better. Apple devices will be benefit from this focus.
I went from QCOM snapdragon team to Apple’s cpu team in 2010. I saw the difference this focus makes first hand.
Also, a billion is an incredible bargain. Modems are hard. Harder than many of the other bits.
Great point. And also the IP, patents…
Whatever Apple paid Qualcomm for the settlement a while ago will be irrelevant after a few years, as they most likely won’t need to buy next-gen Qualcomm chips going forward.
It might eventually make sense for Apple to start embedding 5G chips on all portable devices, including Macbooks.