Apple is said to limit download speeds on Qualcomm-based iPhones till the time Intel develops modems capable of gigabit download speeds
Apple's next iPhones, which expected to launch sometime in September, may not support gigabit LTE download speeds, reports Bloomberg. The company currently uses mobile modems from both Intel and Qualcomm for its latest iPhones. While Qualcomm's X16 LTE modem is capable of gigabit internet speeds, Intel is yet to announce a modem capable of such speeds. Bloomberg adds that Intel needs more time to develop a modem supporting gigabit download speeds and won't be shipping one by the time of next iPhone launch this fall.
For now, Apple is said to continue using modems from Intel and Qualcomm for next-generation iPhones but limit download speeds on Qualcomm-based models. "Until Intel is able to offer its chips with matching features, Apple won’t enable some of the capabilities of the phones running with Qualcomm modems," Bloomberg notes in its report.
Apple is currently fighting a legal battle with Qualcomm, and there is a chance that it might not opt for latter's latest mobile modem. Apple has accused Qualcomm of maintaining an illegal monopoly over smartphone modems and overcharging for use of its basic patents. Qualcomm then countersued Apple for breach of agreements and misrepresentation of facts. Apple is slowly getting rid of its dependency on chipmaker Qualcomm and graphics chipmaker Imagination Technologies. The company is reportedly developing its own components for future products.
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