Intel completes sale of smartphone modem division to Apple

The sale of Intel’s smartphone modem division to Apple has been finalized. At the end of July of this year, the parties reached an agreement on the sale. Apple paid $1 billion to Intel.

Intel emphasizes that the company will continue to develop 5G modems for applications other than smartphones, even after the acquisition of the modem division has been completed. Last week, Intel announced that it was working with MediaTek on 5G modems for laptops and other devices. It is a collaboration in which Intel defines the specifications and MediaTek produces the chips.

In late July, Intel announced it was selling its smartphone modem division to Apple. Apple paid $1 billion and acquired patents, equipment and some 2,200 employees. In April, Intel had already announced that it would stop developing 5G modems for smartphones. Intel stopped doing so after it appeared that Apple will continue to use Qualcomm modems in the coming years.

Intel has made 4g modems used in iPhones. Intel was also developing 5G modems. Apple was Intel’s only major customer. With the acquisition, Apple has acquired the resources to make its own modems. The iPhone maker could integrate it into its own socs. According to a rumor, Apple will introduce an iPhone with its own 5G modem in 2022 for the first time.