Apple files $1 billion lawsuit against major iPhone partner Apple just did the unthinkable: The tech giant is suing Qualcomm, which makes the iPhone's baseband processor — the smartphone's modem for connecting to mobile networks — to the tune of $1 billion.
First reported by CNBC, the lawsuit accuses Qualcomm of withholding payments to Apple in "retaliation" for cooperating with investigators and portrays the San Diego-based chip company as an extortionist over basic smartphone tech**logy.
Apple's move is related to a**ther legal action from earlier this week, when the FTC filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Qualcomm, alleging it was using its patents to strong-arm competitors into paying exorbitant royalties, even for devices that don't use Qualcomm-made components. Read more...