VentureBeat: Intel Works on iPhone Chips

Intel is working on an iPhone version of the 7360 LTE modem chip, VentureBeat reports-- and if "all goes well" the company might even get to provide a "2016 iPhone" with both modem and system-on-a-chip (SoC).

Chip manufactureAccording to unnamed sources Chipzilla is "pulling out the stops" to supply modems for at least "some" iPhones manufactured in 2016 (possibly the iPhone 7), since Apple apparently plans to dual-source LTE modems from Intel and current iPhone modem supplier Qualcomm. Apple business is Very Important Business, and as such Intel reportedly has 1000 people are already working on the account.

The VentureBeat sources add Apple still has to sign Intel as a supplier, but it will if Intel proves to be up to it. Should the modem collaboration prove successful the next step would be an SoC combining the the Apple-designed iPhone Ax processor with Intel's LTE modem and manufacturing prowess.

Currently Samsung and TSMC share A9 chip fabrication duties, but Intel is arguably superior to the two companies through the use of a "front front to back" 14 nanometer process allowing for more dense chips. The latest A9 processor is built using a 20nm process.

Will Intel manage to grasp Apple business from the likes of Qualcomm, Samsung and TSMC? If that happens be prepared for an Intel making further strides towards its mobile business dreams.

Go Intel Has 1000 People Working on Chips for iPhone (VentureBeat)