Intel explains why it left the 5G smartphone market – BGR

The large amount of corporate drama that surrounds the impending 5G boom has not been so bizarre. From AT & T's misleading 5G E icon – which led to a Sprint lawsuit – to Qualcomm and Apple's recent patent expertise, 5G has apparently all mobile operators, component suppliers and handset manufacturers all trying to exploit any kind of advantage in the market they can.

One of the more interesting things that is the result of all this was Intel's announcement a few weeks back, suggesting they intend to leave the 5G smartphone market altogether. The move was somewhat surprising given that Apple was likely to rely on Intel to deliver 5G modems for its 2020 iPhone lineup. Of course, the dynamics soon moved to Apple and Qualcomm's settlement.

Shortly after the settlement announcement, Intel issued a statement indicating that it will focus its 5G stake on PCs and Internet-connected devices.

Of course, Intel's statement asked the question: Has Apple's Qualcomm settlement prompted Intel to leave the 5G business, or was Apple asked to settle with Qualcomm over performance issues with Intel's 5G modems?

Well, as it turns out, a report by Bloomberg recently revealed that Apple chose to settle with Qualcomm after deciding that the 5G modems were not up to snuff. It was also rumblings that Intel alone could not produce 5G modems on the scale that Apple requires.

Intel's CEO, Bob Swan, commented on the case, a bit more light on the company's plan to leave the 5G market. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal Swan said essentially that with Apple and Qualcomm now buddying, there was simply not much money for Intel in the 5G smartphone market.

"In light of the advertising of apple and qualcomm," the swan explained, "we considered the prospect of making money while providing this technology for smartphones and concluded when we just didn't see a path."

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