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posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday March 05 2019, @04:19PM   Printer-friendly
from the 4G++ dept.

Pictured: Intel and Qualcomm to offer 5G Modules for M.2 Slots

Last week we reported on that Fibocom, an Intel partner, had announced a new M.2 module featuring the Intel XMM8160 5G modem to be used in CPEs as well as upcoming PCs and laptops. During the Mobile World Congress show, we actually saw this M.2 module on the Fibocom booth, but to our surprise, we also saw a similar M.2 module for Qualcomm's X55 modem over at the Qualcomm booth.

These modules fit the widest possible M.2 standard, coming in at 30mm wide, which is 8mm wider than the storage based drives we normally see in this form factor. When looking at the Fibocom module first, it was unclear why the module had to be this wide – surely the modem as not 30mm wide, I thought. At the Fibocom booth, we also got hold of a specification list, confirming that the module was to support both SA and NSA networks, and also cover both 5G in the mmWave bands as well as sub 6 GHz.

[...] The unit will support 2x2 MIMO, 4x2 MIMO, and 4x4 MIMO modes for download, but only 2x2 MIMO for upload. The 4x4 MIMO download mode will only be applicable on bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 25, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, n77, n78, n79. The unit also integrates support for GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo. Drivers will be available for both Windows 10 and Linux.

Coming soon... to every new laptop.


Original Submission

Related Stories

Intel Selling Off Smartphone Modem Assets 6 comments

Thanks, Apple: Intel will auction off smartphone modem patents, exit industry

Back in April, Apple announced that it would cease all litigation against chip manufacturer Qualcomm and enter a new partnership with the company that will see Qualcomm modems installed in new crops of iPhones.

On that same day, Intel announced it was exiting the smartphone modem business entirely. Now, according to IAM, Intel is going one step further and auctioning off many of its smartphone modem assets.

This information appears to suggest that without Apple as a partner, Intel has no need for its patents surrounding smartphone modems at all.

According to IAM, the Intel auction will see some 8,500 patents up for sale to the highest bidder.

Also at Tom's Hardware and Wccftech.

Previously: Apple Could Switch From Qualcomm to Intel and MediaTek for Modems
Intel Speeds Up Rollout of 5G Modems
A Billion-Dollar Question: What Was Really Behind Qualcomm's Surprise Ten-Digit Gift to Apple?
Apple's Internal Hardware Team is Working on Modems Now
Intel and Qualcomm Announce 5G Modem Modules for M.2 Slots
Intel Quits 5G Modem Business Hours after Apple Settles with Qualcomm
Qualcomm Will Pocket Almost $5 Billion from Apple Settlement this Quarter
How Qualcomm Shook Down the Cell Phone Industry for Almost 20 Years


Original Submission

Intel and MediaTek Announce Partnership to Bring 5G Modems to PCs 6 comments

Intel and MediaTek Announce Partnership To Bring 5G Modems to PCs

Today Intel has announced they've entered a partnership with MediaTek with the goal of "development, certification and support of 5G modem solutions" for next generation PC platforms. The announcement comes 5 months after the announcement that Intel is selling off its own modem and[sic] division to Apple for $1B.

The partnership with MediaTek clears up Intel's plans for the future of connectivity on PC platforms, and how the company is planning to go forward with supporting cellular connectivity in the next generations of devices.

"5G is poised to unleash a new level of computing and connectivity that will transform the way we interact with the world. This partnership with MediaTek brings together industry leaders with deep engineering, system integration and connectivity expertise to deliver 5G experiences on the next generation of the world's best PCs."

-- Gregory Bryant, Intel executive vice president and general manager of the Client Computing

[...] The first products of the partnership are said to be targeting availability in early 2021.

2021: Did you buy the 5G spy motherboard or just a chip with a management engine?

Previously: Apple in Billion-Dollar Bid to Gobble Intel's 5G Modem Blueprints and Staff

Related: Big Changes Planned by Microsoft - Windows 10 on ARM, Laptops to Behave More Like Phones
Intel Integrates LTE Modem Into Custom Multi-Chip Module for New HP Laptop
Intel and Qualcomm Announce 5G Modem Modules for M.2 Slots


Original Submission

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  • (Score: 2, Interesting) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday March 05 2019, @05:16PM

    by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Tuesday March 05 2019, @05:16PM (#810311) Homepage Journal

    Big future in Modem, folks. Because without Modem, no internet. And more and more people are getting internet. Finally America is going Online, something nobody thought would happen. For Dating, for Social Media, "videos" -- many things. And Modem keeps getting faster and faster. In Washington, we have Quantum Modem from Verizon. Quantum meaning it's much faster. With less dead zones. Amazing!

  • (Score: 3, Funny) by bob_super on Tuesday March 05 2019, @05:59PM (1 child)

    by bob_super (1357) on Tuesday March 05 2019, @05:59PM (#810329)

    > The unit will support 2x2 MIMO, 4x2 MIMO, and 4x4 MIMO modes for download,
    > but only 2x2 MIMO for upload. The 4x4 MIMO download mode will only be applicable
    > on bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 25, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, n77, n78, n79.

    The USB guys are worried that this is too descriptive, and would like to suggest salting and peppering this sentence before trying to explain to grandma whether the wifi will work in the bathroom.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 05 2019, @06:37PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 05 2019, @06:37PM (#810348)

    is more than enough room for more spyware

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