Apple in talks to acquire Intel’s smartphone chip unit for over $1 billion: Report

Apple is in talks to buy Intel’s smartphone modem chip unit, a move that would help the iPhone maker control a key component, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The Journal cited unnamed people familiar with the matter as saying the deal would cover Intel patents and staff valued at a billion dollars, but that it might not come together.

Apple has been investing in its own mobile chips to ramp up performance and features in its devices and reduce its dependence on Qualcomm.

Intel earlier this year announced it was abandoning efforts to compete with modem chips for smartphones synched to new-generation “5G” networks.