AppleInsider Staff
Apple supplier Qualcomm on Thursday announced a new "global LTE" front end solution that operates on 40 bands, including all existing LTE networks, which could usher in a truly global iPhone that even supports the obscure TD-SCDMA network used by the world's largest carrier China Mobile.
According to Qualcomm the RF360 Front End Solution offers the first comprehensive system to address LTE fragmentation, allowing handset makers like Apple to roll out a single smartphone that supports all 2G, 3G, 4G LTE and LTE Advanced. Currently, the iPhone comes in three variants due to limitations with existing wireless chipsets, including two GSM models and one CDMA version.
The RF360 chipset is "designed to mitigate this problem while improving RF performance," and offers support for all seven cellular modes, including LTE-FDD, LTE-TDD, WCDMA, EV-DO, CDMA 1x, TD-SCDMA and GSM/EDGE. If deployed in a next-generation iPhone, Apple could launch a single "universal" handset instead of the company's current three-model lineup.
Of particular interest is the chipset's TD-SCDMA operation, as the standard is used by the world's largest cellular provider by subscribership China Mobile. While Apple has yet to ink a deal with the telecom, many analysts believe a partnership will be a major boon for the continued growth of Apple's iOS platform.
Despite not being an official Apple partner carrier, China Mobile reportedly has some 15 million iPhone users on its slower 2G network, suggesting demand for the handset would be high.
A recent study of the Chinese market showed that Apple may be able to triple its addressable market in the region if it launched a low-cost iPhone that supported China Mobile's network. Currently, the iPhone 5 accounts for some ten percent of the country's mobile market with China Telecom and China Unicom being the only two providers to carry the handset.
In addition to the wide range of supported bands, the RF360 chipset includes a dynamic antenna matching tuner, envelope power tracker, integrated power amplifier/antenna switch and the RF POP 3D RF packing solution. Qualcomm is anticipating a second-half 2013 launch for products using the chipset, around the same time as Apple's usual iPhone refresh cycle.
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Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
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44 Comments
1) It's about time. With dozens of LTE operating bands the situation was worse than having just CDMA and GSM on a handful of bands each. 2) I can't wait to find out how this works and if it's less power efficient since it's no longer a dedicated chip to band implementation. 3) RF360. I see what you did there Qualcomm. Nicely done.
So would this New Chip mean:
1. SIM Cards on Verizon, the same way as ATT's GSM, so that one could just buy such SIM Card when traveling outside the USA, and not have to pay International Roaming?
2. Will there finally be Simultaneous Voice and Data on Verizon iPhones?
My instinct is that the Answer to both Qs will be NO! The excuse given by Verizon and other CDMA carriers will be - we want to preserve Backward Compatibility, so that if a Customer is in the are where there is no Latest LTE, we need to offer them Backward Compatibility to 3G or even Older 2G, which would be still on CDMA!
It would great to be pleasantly surprised, and see that whole CDMA GSM and other Sub-Flavors to go away, and have a Truly One Phone for One World, but… the Carriers around the world want to control their markets, and, no matter how powerful Apple will be, the Carriers will fight back, and will include some kind of restrictions!
We can only guess why China Mobile, The Biggest Carrier there, still didn't make a Deal with Apple! It's logical to conclude that there are some Restrictions, Limitations being negotiated...
The Speeds and Pricing Plans with all their Data Caps in the USA will be another battle ground!
[quote name="macologist" url="/t/156112/new-qualcomm-lte-chipset-could-bring-truly-global-iphone-with-support-for-china-mobile#post_2282263"]So would this New Chip mean: 1. SIM Cards on Verizon, the same way as ATT's GSM, so that one could just buy such SIM Card when traveling outside the USA, and not have to pay International Roaming? 2. Will there finally be Simultaneous Voice and Data on Verizon iPhones? My instinct is that the Answer to both Qs will be NO! The excuse given by Verizon and other CDMA carriers will be - we want to preserve Backward Compatibility, so that if a Customer is in the are where there is no Latest LTE, we need to offer them Backward Compatibility to 3G or even Older 2G, which would be still on CDMA! It would great to be pleasantly surprised, and see that whole CDMA GSM and other Sub-Flavors to go away, and have a Truly One Phone for One World, but… the Carriers around the world want to control their markets, and, no matter how powerful Apple will be, the Carriers will fight back, and will include some kind of restrictions! We can only guess why China Mobile, The Biggest Carrier there, still didn't make a Deal with Apple! It's logical to conclude that there are some Restrictions, Limitations being negotiated... The Speeds and Pricing Plans with all their Data Caps in the USA will be another battle ground! [/quote] 1) The iPhone 5 has a SIM card slot on all models. On the Verizon iPhone 5 it's unlock so you can use GSM/UMTS/LTE on other carriers, but the LTE is currently limited due to the operating bands. 2) SV&D will require a third antenna which is why some LTE phones on Verizon have it but the iPhone 5 does not. I think there is a good chance we'll see it this year (or maybe I just really miss it from switching from AT&T last year). 3) GSM and CDMA will still be around for a long time. They are part of the chipsets and use very little power compared to newer standards. Think of 802.11b still part of WiFi. Think of how long carrier kept AMPS around. 4) I think China Mobiles has a much better hand than Apple and I think Apple will do special things to secure that market. Perhaps that is, in part, investing in Qualcomm to create the RF360 posthaste or creating a cheaper handset since subsidized devices aren't common.
4) I think China Mobiles has a much better hand than Apple and I think Apple will do special things to secure that market. Perhaps that is, in part, investing in Qualcomm to create the RF360 posthaste or creating a cheaper handset since subsidized devices aren't common.
Apple could also come up with a new "must have" device such that China Mobile starts losing subscribers by not having it. There's more than one way to skin a Chat.
I thought the issue with supporting many cell phone bands is broader than just baseband chipset support. Different bands also need different support components including power amplifiers and antennae which add cost, space, power, and complexity making a true world phone for 2G through 4G very difficult.