modem
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Samsung is readying its own smartphone-to-satellite communication platform
Samsung has unveiled a new standardized 5G NTN (non-terrestrial network) modem that will enable two-way communication between smartphones and satellites.
Qualcomm brings 10-gigabit 5G to laptops and home broadband
Qualcomm has unveiled an M.2 reference design that brings 10-gigabit 5G to your laptop or home broadband.
Apple may switch to its own 5G iPhone modems by 2023
Apple's purchase of Intel's 5G smartphone modem business in 2019 may start to pay dividends by 2023.
Qualcomm unveils the first 10-gigabit 5G modem
Qualcomm has unveiled the first 10-gigabit 5G modem, the X65 — although finding a place to take advantage of that speed is another story.
Law bars ISPs from charging rental fees for a modem you own
A law taking effect December 20th prevents your ISP from charging rental fees for modems and other boxes you own.
EU investigates Qualcomm for alleged anti-competitive tactics
Qualcomm is facing yet another European Union antitrust case. The wireless hardware giant has revealed in an SEC filing that the European Commission is investigating the company for possible anti-competitive tactics in the radio frequency chip space. Officials want to know if Qualcomm abused its influence in 5G baseband processors to push companies into using its radio frequency front end chips instead of third-party options like Broadcom or Skyworks.
Intel teams with MediaTek to create 5G modems for PCs
Intel has backed away from 5G in smartphones, but it's determined to bring the technology to PCs -- and it's recruiting an ally to ensure that happens. The chip giant is teaming up with MediaTek to create 5G modems for laptops and other PCs that can benefit from an always-on connection. MediaTek will be the one to develop and deliver the tech. Intel will define the 5G solution spec, provide optimization, validate designs and lend the support needed to integrate the modems into shipping computers.
Apple buys the 'majority' of Intel's smartphone modem business
The rumors were (mostly) true -- Apple is buying the "majority" of Intel's smartphone modem business for $1 billion. The deal will see Apple take on 2,200 Intel workers as well as equipment, intellectual property and leases. Apple expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2019 so long as regulators approve the handover.
Apple in 'advanced' discussions to buy Intel's modem division
After months of rumors, Intel is reportedly close to finding a buyer for its phone modem division... and it won't surprise you to hear who the candidate is. Wall Street Journal tipsters claim Apple is in "advanced talks" to buy the modem chip outfit, with the reportedly $1 billion-plus deal possibly ready within the next week. The companies had been discussing a sale since summer 2018, according to the sources, but had been on-and-off until sometime after Apple reached its truce with Qualcomm, leading Intel to halt its 5G work.
MediaTek's 5G chipsets are ready for cheaper next-gen phones
The first wave of 5G devices carried a high premium, but MediaTek is working hard to ensure that budget handsets aren't left behind. The company has announced a new 5G-compatible system-on-chip that will offer decent performance and 5G connectivity to lower-end devices. The elegantly-named Integrated 5G SoC combines MediaTek's M70 5G modem with Arm's Cortex-A77 CPU and Mali-G77 GPU.
Intel is trying to sell its smartphone-modem business
Intel is looking to sell its smartphone-modem business, now that it's officially out of the race for 5G chipsets, The Wall Street Journal reports. In fact, Apple considered acquiring part of Intel's modem ventures in talks that began last summer, but that deal stopped short just as Apple and Qualcomm reached a settlement in a contentious patent-royalty legal dispute. By the end of that court battle, Apple and Qualcomm had signed a multi-year chipset-supply deal -- which meant Intel was out.
Intel giving up on 5G tech explains Apple's sudden Qualcomm settlement
In a move that accompanies today's shocking settlement between Apple and Qualcomm, Intel has suddenly announced it's not even going to try building 5G modems for smartphones. Apple had attempted to replace Qualcomm as a supplier for its modem chips with Intel, but reported issues with implementing 5G tech were a reason it's not expected to appear in an iPhone this year. In a statement, Intel said it "does not expect to launch 5G modem products in the smartphone space, including those originally planned for launches in 2020." According to CEO Bob Swan "We are very excited about the opportunity in 5G and the 'cloudification' of the network, but in the smartphone modem business it has become apparent that there is no clear path to profitability and positive returns." As late as last November, Intel said it was speeding up development of 5G modem tech, and laid out a plan of attack for us on the CES stage in January. Now it's going to "assess" the opportunities for 4G and 5G in PC, IoT and other devices, while continuing to invest in developing 5G infrastructure tech.
Apple will add 1,200 jobs in Qualcomm's hometown
Tim Apple may have a new way to challenge Qualcomm outside of the courtroom: by luring some of the rival company's employees. The company has unveiled plans to add 1,200 jobs in Qualcomm's hometown of San Diego over the next three years, a 20 percent increase over previously mentioned numbers. The city will become a "principle engineering hub" for the company, with people focusing on "specialty" hardware and software projects.
Why can’t all set-top boxes be as stylish as the Freebox Delta?
It might seem strange to do a deep-dive of an internet and TV set-top box, let alone one that you can't have in the United States. But the Freebox Delta from French carrier Free, equipped with Devialet speakers, is so strange, stylish and interesting that it merits a much closer look. And it's always good to see if the grass is greener on the other side of the Atlantic, non? It's one of the first set-top/fiber boxes to deliver high-speed internet, media-player capability, high-end sound and 4K HDR video. It has Alexa, streaming services and even a free Netflix subscription, so it can handle most AV chores with no extra devices needed. On top of that, it's chic and, like many things French, a touch political. But the biggest question is, what can it do? Let's take a look.
Intel's 5G modems won't be in phones until 2020
Intel has said that while it will send out sample versions of its 5G modems to its clients this year, the chips won't be in phones before 2020. Apple uses Intel modems in its iPhones, so the timeline suggests we might not see a 5G iPhone until next year, which falls in line with previous reports.
Qualcomm's X55 modem will help make 5G phones a practical reality
The first batch of 5G phones is right around the corner, but Qualcomm is already preparing for the follow-up. It's introducing a Snapdragon X55 modem that should make 5G more viable in the real world. Unlike the X50, the new chipset will support "all major frequency bands" for (millimeter wave or lower), different operation modes and network deployments (including 4G/5G spectrum sharing), effectively supporting most any 5G rollout on the horizon. You'll be more likely to get coverage beyond your home network, and shouldn't be left behind if there's a coverage upgrade.
Charter agrees to $174 million settlement for poor service in New York
The New York attorney general's office has reached a settlement with Charter Communications for providing its customers with insufficient internet services. Under the settlement, Charter and Spectrum Management Holding Company will be required to pay customers $62.5 million in refunds and provide $100 million worth of services for free. Further, the agreement calls for Charter to be more transparent about its services going forward.
Judge: Qualcomm must license modem tech to rivals like Intel
Qualcomm isn't having much luck defending itself against the FTC's antitrust lawsuit. US federal Judge Lucy Koh has ruled that Qualcomm must license some of the patents in its cellular modems to rival chip manufacturers. Qualcomm and the FTC had previously asked Koh to delay the ruling for up to 30 days while the two sides negotiated a possible settlement, but the judge denied that motion.
Samsung's Exynos modem will make 5G phones real
Samsung has unveiled a 5G modem that meets all the latest standards and can hit 6Gbps mmWave speeds. The Exynos Modem 5100, built using Samsung's 10-nanometer process, conforms to the latest 3GPP release 15 spec for sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G spectrums. At the same time, it's compatible with current 2G, 3G and LTE standards, with speeds as high as 1.6Gbps on advanced 4G networks.
