It’s interesting. A big reason why Qualcomm got to making CPUs in the first place was that they could sell it as a value add to their modem chips everyone was using: now you can have both in one chip!
We have seen Apple try to make a modem of course, but it seems to have fizzled out again. Wonder why they never looked at WiFi/BT, it’s a lot easier and Intel recently sold theirs iirc.
Apple isn’t making WiFi/bt precisely because it’s not that hard. There are a number of potential companies they can partner with so they can negotiate better rates. CPUs and modems are different, they effectively had a single supplier that will work for their requirements which meant that they couldn’t differentiate their products from other companies and had to deal with a third party supplier who essentially had them over a barrel at the negotiating table.
If they can pull off making their own modem, Qualcomm can’t charge them like they’re the only option even if not all iPhones use the new modem. The makers of various easier to make ICs already know they are not the only option and charge accordingly.
We have seen Apple try to make a modem of course, but it seems to have fizzled out again. Wonder why they never looked at WiFi/BT, it’s a lot easier and Intel recently sold theirs iirc.