So now instead of Qualcomm monopolising high end modems in phones, we may well end up in a situation where Apple will. Wonderful. High fives all round.
For one thing, Qualcomm isn't going to be ditching the modem business; they just aren't allowed to be predatory monopolists on it anymore.
For another, because Qualcomm isn't allowed to use the anticompetitive tactics they've used in the past, it will now be possible for someone else to break into that market. It'll take a lot of time, money, and effort, to be sure, but if someone else can get modems working even in the same quality ballpark as Qualcomm's, they'll have a guaranteed revenue stream from people who would be overjoyed to stick it to Qualcomm.
And, of course, at this point, there's no guarantee that Apple will be making modems for anyone but themselves.
The thing is that the entire high end Android market is much smaller than the iPhone market. Qualcomm won’t have any incentive to invest a lot of money in high end modems if Apple is not a customer. You’re seeing the same thing on a much smaller scale play out in the wearables market. The only company producing enough watches to make an investment in the processors required is Apple.
Of course Apple isn’t going to make modems for anyone but themselves.
