Replies to post #270356 on InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[MJPLIFE11]

30?

[Data_Rox]

30....or 30M ??? Probably includes 2G version as well

iSuppli estimates the Infineon baseband cost (with stack) at $13

Would be nice if we could figure out how much they paid Infineon for their chip that uses IDCC's stack.

Apple: iPhone 3GS Materials Cost Similar To Last Version

By Eric Savitz

The bill of materials for the Apple (AAPL) iPhone 3GS is comparable to model it replaced, according to market research firm iSuppli, which conducted a detailed tear-down of the new version of the phone.

According to iSuppli, the cost of materials for the 16 GB version of the iPhone is $172.46, plus another $6.50 in manufacturing costs, for a total production cost of $178.96. The firm notes that this is comparable to its estimate last year that the 8 GB iPhone 3G had a production cost of $174.33. (Note that both models are priced at $199.)

As you likely know already, the key hardware differentiators in the new model are video capture, an upgrade in the camera to 3 MP from 2 MP, and a built in digital compass. Other than those iteam, iSuppli notes, the hardware in the new version is pretty similar to the old one. The research firm made a few other observations on the components used in the phone that are worth noting:

One of the biggest changes, according to iSuppli, is that Apple is now using a single chip from Broadcom (BRCM) for Bluetooth, FM and WIFi. The part replaces two previous chips: a Marvell (MRVL) wireless LAN chip and a Cambridge Silicon Radio chip for Bluethooth. Estimated cost of the BRCM part: $5.95.
Japan-based AKM Semiconductor makes the electronic compass.
STMicro (STM) makes the accelerometer.
Infineon (IFX) keep its baseband chip slot.
TriQuint (TQNT) keeps its 3G power amplifier module slot.
Toshiba supplied the NAND flash in the phone torn down by iSuppli- that’s $24 worth of chips. But iSuppli notes that there could be other suppliers, including Samsung.
Here is iSuppli’s list of the materials it found inside the phone, with their estimated cost:

Toshiba: flash memory, $24.
Toshiba: Display module, $19.25.
Toshiba: Touch screen assembly, $16.
Samsung: Application procesor, $14.46.
Infineon: Baseband chip, $13.
Infineon: Camera module, $9.55.
Samsung: SDRAM, $8.50.
Broadcom: Bluetooth/FM/WLAN chip, $5.95.
Numonyx: Memory MCP, $3.65.
Infineon: RF Transceiver, $2.80.
Infineon: GPS Receiver, $2.25.
Infineon: Power IC, $1.25.
Murata: FEM (front-end module, including quad-band antenna switch and filters) $1.30.
Cirrus Logic: Audio Code, $1.15.
Note that those are all the parts for which the research firm offers specific prices; the total comes to $124.46. They estimate $48 for other parts, including, but not exclusively these two:

STMicro: Acceleromenter
AKM Semiconductor: Electronic compass.

[magillagorilla]

ALL THINGS DIGITAL: Live Blogging From Apple's iPod Event
1:30 pm ET 09/09/2009- Dow Jones


(This story has been posted on All Things Digital, a blog owned by Dow Jones.)

By Yukari Iwatani Kane
Of ALL THINGS DIGITAL
Apple is holding an iPod-themed event Wednesday at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco.

10:27 Jobs is back on stage. "So now let's move onto iPod." Brings Phil Schiller, marketing chief on stage.
10:27 The feature is also available for movies. Shows extra features on Wall-E for example.
10:20 Robin shows new iTunes store. Points to new navigation bar at the top with a drop down that takes users to genre. Preview button on top charts allows users to listen to what the song is like. Arrows on buy buttons on the store allows users to gift the album, add to wishlist or share on Facebook or Twitter. some applause, but not hugely enthusiastic.
10:16 Yet another feature of iTunes 9 is iTunes LP. Jobs says, "Some of us are old enough here to have bought LPs and it was great." (Scattered chuckles in audience). Shows how "albums" can show lyrics, chorology, videos, etc. Some of the examples of albums he shows are by Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews, Norah Jones. Next up Jeff Robin, VP of iTunes engineering to demo the new iTunes.
10:13 Another new feature is improved syncing that lets users be more specific in their syncing conditions. One example that Jobs gave to great laughter: "I want the latest three movies, but I always want Ratatouille." He gets more cheering when he shows how users can manage apps on the iTunes computer interface.
10:11 New feature: Genius mixes - Imagine a Genius DJ. iTunes will make up to 12 of them. They'll go on and on playing songs that go well together in your library. It's like a great radio station, says Jobs.
10:09 iTunes Genius has submitted 54 billion songs to be analyzed, and it's gotten "smarter and smarter and smarter"
10:08 Now back to music. Apple says iTunes is the #1 music retailer in the world with 100 million accounts in 23 countries. Announcing next major release of iTunes.
10:05 Says he's here to talk about music today, but first the iPhone. In a little over two years, Apple has sold 30 million iPhones. Adding Genius recommendations for the App Store like music. Finally, user and app developers' complaints that it's hard to find good apps may be solved. Apple is also adding ring tones.
10:02 Jobs says he has a liver of a mid-20s person who was generous enough to donate his organ after a car accident. Thanks COO Tim Cook and Apple community. Gets huge applause. 10:00: Steve Jobs appears and gets a standing ovation. Looks same as he did last October, thin but smiling.
9:57: Anticipation mounts about whether Jobs will appear after Bloomberg reports that he was seen walking in the back door.
9:37 a.m. PST: Still in line outside, but one VIP is already in: Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who until last month was an Apple board member.
-For continuously updated news from The Wall Street Journal, see WSJ.com at http://wsj.com.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
09-09-09 1330ET
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