Apple now owns Intel's smartphone modem business

Apple has completed its acquisition of Intel's mobile modem business. The deal was announced back in July with a value of US$1 billion (around CA$1.3 billion). Apple plans to leverage Intel's modems to develop its technology, particularly when it comes to its iPhones. The goal is for the company to lessen its reliance on third-party suppliers for its components.

In the meantime, you can still expect Apple to use Qualcomm's modems. The two feuding companies reached a US$4.5 billion (around CA$6 billion) settlement back in May, resuming their business with each other. As for Intel, the company can still develop its 5G networks and modems, but for non-smartphone applications like in vehicles and PCs.

Google to acquire Fitbit for US$2.1 billion

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Fitbit is going to be the newest brand to be taken under Google's wings. Google announced that it has "entered into a definitive agreement" to acquire Fitbit for US$2.1 billion (around CA$2.7 billion). The announcement comes days after reports are going around that Google was in talks to purchase the fitness tracker company. Fitbit will be joining Google itself, in the same way that Nest is under Google right now.

According to Rick Osterloh, Google's senior vice president for hardware, the reason they want Fitbit is to help them create wearables within the company. That they "see an opportunity to invest even more in Wear OS as well as introduce Made by Google wearable devices into the market."

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Tesla reportedly acquires Ontario-based battery manufacturing company Hibar Systems

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A recent report came out claiming one of Tesla’s latest acquisitions is a battery manufacturing company based in Richmond Hill, Ontario. According to public records, Tesla bought Hibar Systems sometime between July and October 2019. Before July 2019, Tesla Canada didn’t have any subsidiary companies. But recent federal documents show Hibar as a company that it owns. Neither company has commented on the matter yet. As for a reason for the acquisition, we can assume, based on Hibar’s business, that it has something to do with the battery manufacturing process.

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Apple buys ‘majority’ of Intel’s smartphone business for US$1 billion

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Apple is moving forward with its plans of developing its own cellular hardware with its latest acquisition. The company is buying the “majority” of Intel’s smartphone modem business for US$1 billion. It’ll see Apple taking on 2,200 Intel employees, intellectual property, and leases. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year if regulators approve of the handover, that is.

In the smartphone chipset market, Intel won’t be completely out of the game. But it’ll scale back. And its focus on 5G will be in areas where it “most closely aligns” with what its customers want. The focus would be on customers like network operators, cloud service providers, and equipment manufacturers. The company will also work on developing modems for computers, Internet of Things devices, and self-driving cars.

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