Intel has a team of more than 1,000 people working on chips for the Apple iPhone
Intel is said to have assembled a team of more than 1,000 people to work on its XMM 7360 modem for future Apple iPhone models. If Intel continues to meet Apple's expectations, the former may have the opportunity to manufacture the next iPhone processor.
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While Qualcomm's 9X45 LTE chip is used in all Apple iPhone modems today, it might not be the case from 2016 onwards.
According to Venture Beat, sources claim that Intel has a team of more than 1,000 people working to equip the 2016 iPhone model with its XMM 7360 modem chip. Although Apple has not officially signed Intel as a supplier of the modem chip, sources told Venture Beat that Intel is using whatever resources available to make that a reality.
Another possible scenario cited by the sources involves Apple dual-sourcing LTE modems for the iPhone from both Intel and Qualcomm, which is similar to how it partnered with TSMC and Samsung to manufacture the A9 chipset for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
Venture Beat also believes that the huge amount of resources allocated to this project is a sign that Intel could be more involved in the future. Its foundry, which utilizes the 14-nanometer process "from front to back", is said to be better than TSMC and Samsung due to "superior density and gate pitch". Apple is also enticed by Intel's progress in developing a 10-nanometer process which could produce smaller and faster processors.
If Intel succeeds in meeting Apple's expectations, that will be a significant win for Intel as it has been struggling in the mobile chip market for the past few years. And when that happens, Qualcomm could potentially see its profits drop further.
Source: Venture Beat
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