Could future iPhone and iPad devices be powered by chips built by Intel? A new rumors seems to suggest so. With Samsung and Apple’s relationship becoming so distant, it is possible Intel could extend beyond providing Intel processors for Apple’s PC efforts.

There is a catch though. According to RBC Capital Markets, Apple wants Intel to build chips designed in-house by the Cupertino-based corporation using the ARM architecture, not X86. Why in the world would Intel, an X86 chip maker, want to do that? The keys to the iPad, that’s why.

While the PC market is reportedly shrinking, Apple’s iPad (and non-Apple tablets for that matter) continues to see strong growth. The rumor is that Apple will have Intel produce ARM chips for the iPhone 5, but the iPad will make a switch to Intel.

The idea here is that ARM is more power efficient for a smaller smartphone design, and yet Intel chips are more powerful and could make the iPad more effective as a desktop/laptop replacement going forward. On the downside, dual architectures can also be tricky to handle.

Still, Intel-based Android smartphones are said to handle almost all apps on Android, even though most Android devices run on ARM processors.

Besides RBC Capital Markets, CNET claims another source has backed up the idea of Intel and Apple coming together with Intel as a foundry for Apple’s future chips.

The source says that such a plan has been in “talks” for about two years, but recent Samsung-Apple relations might have pushed Apple to make this big move.

What do you think, is there any possibility this is all true or nothing more than a rumor?

[ source ]

The post Rumor: Intel May Produce iPhone and iPad Chips instead of Samsung appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

What’s all this mean? Intel plans to step up to smartphone production in a big way. Their acquisition of the Infineon’s Wireless Solutions (WLS) business will recover their ability to produce complete end-to-end solutions for smartphones. Once owners of their very own communication chips, Intel sold this portion of their business to Marvell back in 2006. That may have been the best move for them at the time, however now in a world of iPads and iPhone 4s with Infineon technology tucked inside, to compete with Qualcomm and ST-Ericsson Intel will need the ability to develop FM, GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth products all in one, the complete smartphone package.

“The global demand for wireless solutions continues to grow at an extraordinary rate. The acquisition of Infineon’s WLS (Wireless Solutions) business strengthens the second pillar of our computing strategy–Internet connectivity–and enables us to offer a portfolio of products that covers the full range of wireless options from Wi-Fi and 3G to WiMax and LTE (4G).” Intel CEO Paul Otellini said in a statement.

Alongside wireless, Infineon manufacturers automobile logic chips, machines and in security solutions, such as passports. They have no immediate plans to sell off any remaining divisions of their company.

Intel’s move appears to strengthen the fact that the PC market is on shaky ground, evolution of their company is a requirement, and Intel has no problem making the necessary changes. It’s a smartphone world, and Intel wants to be inside.

The post Intel inside your smartphone; $1.4b buys Infineon’s Wireless Solutions business appeared first on Mobile Magazine.