NEWS ANALYSISApple Park for work on the A14 processor and beyond
would save Apple years of hires and reorganization.
But it’s not the iPhone that could stand to benefit
the most from an integrated 5G modem. A more
efficient S chip, which powers the Apple Watch, is key to
the future generations of Apple’s wearable, especially
as power-hungry 5G arrives. With an integrated 5G
modem, chips will be smaller and more power efficient,
two areas of intense focus for Apple. As it stands, the
modem and main processor are separate entities and
will continue in the vein as long as it continues to
buy its modems from Qualcomm. Integration is one
of Intel’s strongest suits, and it will be even more
important when 5G starts taking off.- Patent trolls
As 5G phones and devices proliferate over the next
few years, there is also sure to be an uptick in lawsuits.
Apple, Samsung, Intel, and any other tech giant are all
susceptible to so-called patent trolls, companies that
scoop up patents with the sole intention of using them
to sue other companies that may infringe on them. It’s
impossible to say what patents are included in this deal,
but you can bet that they would be used for frivolous
lawsuits in the wrong hands. It’s probably not the
primary motivation for Apple’s purchase, but it wouldn’t
be the first time someone snatched up a bunch of
patents to keep them out of the wrong hands. - The next MacBook
While Apple has yet to release a notebook with LTE
connectivity, that’s probably going to change with the
NEWS ANALYSISAppleParkforworkontheA14processorandbeyond
wouldsaveAppleyearsofhiresandreorganization.
Butit’snottheiPhonethatcouldstandtobenefit
the mostfromanintegrated5Gmodem.Amore
efficientSchip,whichpowerstheAppleWatch,iskeyto
thefuturegenerationsofApple’swearable,especially
aspower-hungry5Garrives.Withanintegrated5G
modem,chipswillbesmallerandmorepowerefficient,
twoareasofintensefocusforApple.Asitstands,the
modem and main processor are separate entities and
willcontinueintheveinaslongasit continuesto
buyitsmodemsfromQualcomm.Integrationisone
ofIntel’sstrongestsuits,anditwillbeevenmore
importantwhen5Gstartstakingoff.
2.Patenttrolls
As5Gphonesanddevicesproliferateoverthenext
fewyears,thereisalsosuretobeanuptickinlawsuits.
Apple, Samsung, Intel, and any other tech giant are all
susceptibletoso-calledpatenttrolls,companiesthat
scoopuppatentswiththesoleintentionofusingthem
tosueothercompaniesthatmayinfringeonthem.It’s
impossibletosaywhatpatentsareincludedinthisdeal,
butyoucanbetthattheywouldbeusedforfrivolous
lawsuitsinthewronghands.It’sprobablynotthe
primarymotivationforApple’spurchase,butitwouldn’t
bethefirsttimesomeonesnatchedupabunchof
patentstokeepthemoutofthewronghands.
- The next MacBook
While Apple has yet to release a notebook with LTE
connectivity, that’s probably going to change with the