Apple iPhone 7 release date and specs rumors: Apple's flagship smartphone to come out with Intel's modem chips?

Although there are many people who expected Apple to provide concrete details regarding the development and release of the upcoming iPhone 7, the Cupertino-based company decided to skip the flagship smartphone at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference or WWDC 2016. However, fans and tech observers are pretty positive that the company will reveal the device before this year ends. New reports have also emerged suggesting that Apple will make major changes in the next iPhone iteration, including some specs under the hood.

According to the The Inquirer, the company has decided to end their partnership with Qualcomm's LTE modem chips. The publication added that Apple will start using Intel's modem chips on the next iPhone model. If rumors prove to be true, this partnership between Apple and Intel will certainly improve the performance and capability of the new iPhone smartphone.

However, a report from TechWire suggested that only the future AT&T-released iPhone 7 will get the Intel modem chips. According to the publication, other phones that are going to be released from other major carriers will still have the Qualcomm chips.

Some tech analysts predict that the American multinational semiconductor company, Qualcomm, will no longer be Apple's main supplier of cellular radios. However, the company still dominates the whole market of various handheld devices such as smartphones and tabs.

Senior analyst Stacy Rasgon from Bernstein Research said that people are starting to wonder if iPhones with Intel modems are also going to be available from other carriers.

"I think people were wondering if (Intel's modem) might be in iPhones on other carriers internationally maybe," Rasgon said. "AT&T is a major network. On the surface, would it be good enough for that? We'll see."

He also said that Qualcomms cellular radio technology is still way ahead in terms of competition. Nonetheless, Intel is slowly making their presence felt in the market.

"Maybe it's good. That's the thing we don't know," he added. "We will have to wait and see how the thing performs in six or eight months or whenever it's in the hands of people."