Qualcomm’s New LTE Chip Might Help Apple Make A Truly Global iPhone

By

Avocado for iPhone

When you buy your iPhone 5, you have tons of options to choose from. Yes, there are different storage sizes, but you also have the two color options, and then have to get the right iPhone for your carrier. In the U.S. that means you have 18 different models to chose from if you don’t have a carrier preference.

If Apple could just manufacture one iPhone that works on all the LTE carriers, then they’d be able to simplify their supply chain considerably. Luckily, Qualcomm announced a new wireless chip that might make that possible.

According to a press release from Qualcomm, the chip maker has invented a new cellular solution that supports over 40 different bands on a single chip, which means a truly universal iPhone might be within reach.

The new Qualcomm RF360 chipset supports seven radio technologies, including LTE-FDD, LTE-TDD, WCDMA, EV-DO, CDMA 1x, TD-SCDMA and GSM/EDGE. Along with supporting different bands and radios, the new chip improves RF performance.

Qualcomm says that the chip should get stuffed inside some new cellphones during the second half of 2013, which is right around when we expect the new iPhone to launch. As long as it doesn’t eat up a ton of battery, Qualcomm’s new LTE wonderchip just might make the iPhone 5S a global smartphone.

Source: Qualcomm

Via: iDB

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.