MoDem

Apple and Qualcomm have renewed their chip licensing agreement, extending a business relationship that has swung between partnership and litigation over the years. Qualcomm supplies modem chips for iPhones under licensing terms, and the renewal keeps that arrangement in place. The deal matters for the semiconductor and smartphone industries since both companies depend on the continued supply relationship.

Apple reportedly plans to use its own custom-designed modem chips in every iPhone released in 2027, moving away from Qualcomm's modems entirely. The company has been developing in-house modem technology for years, and the 2027 lineup would mark the point where the transition is complete across the full range.

Reports say Apple plans to replace Qualcomm modems with its own in-house-designed chips across the entire iPhone lineup by 2027. Apple has been working for years to develop its own modem technology after acquiring Intel's modem business in 2019, and has already begun introducing its first custom modem in lower-end iPhone models. A full switch would end Apple's reliance on Qualcomm, one of its biggest suppliers.

Qualcomm has renewed its patent licensing agreement with Apple, extending the arrangement through 2027. The deal keeps in place the payments Apple makes to use Qualcomm's wireless technology in iPhones, a relationship that has swung between litigation and cooperation for years. The renewal signals continued reliance on Qualcomm modems even as Apple works on its own in-house modem development.

A report claims Apple's entire 2027 iPhone lineup could ship without Qualcomm modem chips, as the company continues rolling out its own in-house modem, starting with the iPhone SE and extending across the range. However, Apple reportedly cannot fully break away from Qualcomm yet, since it still relies on the chipmaker for certain components, keeping the two tied together for now.

Prosecutors have requested a two-year suspended prison sentence and a 50,000 euro fine against François Bayrou at the Paris appeal trial over the MoDem parliamentary assistants affair. The case concerns allegedly fictitious jobs for European Parliament aides, with Bayrou accused of using funds to pay party staff. Prosecutors' sentencing demands were laid out on Monday as the appeal proceedings continue.

Apple has renewed its chip licensing agreement with Qualcomm even as it continues developing its own in-house modems, including technology gained through its acquisition of Intel's modem business. The dual approach reflects the complexity of modem development and the importance of Qualcomm's patent portfolio, which Apple still relies on even as it reduces dependence on Qualcomm chips in iPhones.

A French-speaking user says he solved a week of frustration tethering his phone as a USB modem for his laptop, concluding that a recent Ubuntu update broke compatibility with the WiFi driver of his old 2013 MacBook Air. He says he eventually fixed it using a tool, and shared the experience with others online.