A 5-minute timeline of Apple’s 5G iPhone plans

Has Apple really run out of surprises? Image c/o: Jacinta Iluch Valero/Flickr

Apple’s move to resolve its spat with Qualcomm means the company is now far more likely to offer 5G iPhones at exactly the right time to show what happens when the fast mobile networking standard is deployed correctly.

You can lead from behind

Apple has been castigated as being “behind” on 5G, but this isn’t really the case.

After all, with multiple carriers now choosing to abandon 5G equipment from Huawei, carrier deployment of the technology will be slowed down.

Not only this, but while we can already access 5G networks in some locations, it’s going to take a while yet until 5G is as regularly available as even 3G networks are today. At time of writing, even 4G hasn’t quite become universally available as yet.

Apple’s peace deal with Qualcomm means the company will now be able to introduce 5G iPhones in 2020, by which time we should find that 5G networks are more widely available in key metropolitan areas across a wider range of carriers.

Services matter most

This availability also means we’ll see more 5G-focused services develop – and this will drive further adoption of the standard – but creating and popularising these will take time. 5G means nothing without services to exploit it.

Apple will be in position to capitalise on this in precisely the same way it managed to exploit the opportunity of other standards evolutions – proving you can lead from behind.

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A 5-minute timeline of Apple’s 5G iPhone plans

I’ve blathered on a little, so here’s my almost 100 percent guessed at quick and simple guide to Apple’s 5G iPhone plans.

1. Get 5G modems from Qualcomm, now they’ve settled the court case together.
2. Develop new phones implementing the tech for introduction in 2020.
3. Development will include development of key services designed to exploit the standard – but these must also work on earlier standard versions as most people won’t have access to true 5G networks at this time. Look to Apple’s iCloud and media services for ideas around this.
4. Further develop high-bandwidth media applications that can really exploit 5G – Apple Arcadecould be particularly valuable here.
5. Meanwhile continue to invest in development talentin order to develop an Apple-designed 5G modem, likely rolling in other networking technologies.
6. By 2022, Apple seeks to offer a compelling usage case for 5G, supported by services that really shine on high-bandwidth.
7. Apple will also seek out new product opportunities within this time. Apple Glasses?
8. Aim to introduce 5G iPhones that use Apple’s own 5G modems by 2022/3.
9. In doing so, Apple’s proprietary control over this key component will also offer huge opportunities in the development of other services that rely on high bandwidth.
10. Continue to seek out new opportunities on the Great Wave of Change

The end.

Come back in 2022 and see how I did.

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