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elctrnx_lyf
The pricing is very competetive definitely. The Quallcom have done themselves a ...
chanj
The drop of BOM costs is predictable. I am very interested in knowing whether ...
Verizon iPhone 4 has estimated BOM of $171
Dylan McGrath
2/10/2011 1:52 PM EST
SAN FRANCISCO—The CDMA version of Apple Inc.'s iPhone 4 has nearly identical functionality and carries a similar bill of materials as the GSM version shipping since last summer, but the new version features significant changes in design and component selection, according to a teardown analysis performed by IHS iSuppli.
The CDMA iPhone 4, now available through Verizon Wireless, carries a bill of materials (BOM) of $171.35, compared to a BOM of $187.51 for the previous model, according to IHS. When manufacturing expenses are added, the total production cost for the CDMA iPhone 4 amounts to $178.45, according to IHS. The 16GB version of the phone retails through Verizon for $199.
Earlier this week, a teardown of the CDMA iPhone 4 by UBM TechInsights found that the device uses a multimode processor from Qualcomm Inc. that could open the door to a future global iPhone. Analysts at UBM TechInsights concluded that the redesigned antenna in the new version of the phone has several similarities to the antenna that caused dropped calls when it was released by AT&T last summer, including the same location of the so called "death grip"—the spot that many blame for the dropped call issue—though UBM TechInsights noted that the new version includes a Diversity Rx antenna to maximize CDMA reception.
But the IHS teardown analysis concluded that while the first version of the design featured an all-in-one approach combining GPS, Bluetooth and WLAN into one segment of the antenna superstructure integrated into the iPhone 4’s enclosure, the new version employs a separate Bluetooth/WLAN antenna.
"Apple has decided to isolate the Bluetooth/WLAN antenna from the enclosure/antenna assembly," said Wayne Lam, senior analyst for competitive analysis at IHS. "This design change leaves the top enclosure antenna segment to serve primarily as the GPS antenna and probably also as a CDMA diversity receive antenna. The use of antenna diversity is significant because this scheme improves signal reception performance."
According to Andrew Rassweiler, senior director of teardown services at HIS, the CDMA iPhone 4 is further proof that Apple never recycles a product design. "Apple’s new designs always exhibit changes, evolution and optimization," Rassweiler said. "This approach is evident not only in the antenna design but also in items like the integrated GPS functionality and the shrinking of the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo module. As we dig deeper into our teardown analysis, we’re certain that we will find a host of other tweaks all designed to improve quality but keep costs on a steady path of decline."
IHS concluded that the CDMA iPhone 4 design also shows increased integration of semiconductor components through its use of the Qualcomm chip, which replaces the Infineon PMB9801 baseband chip used in the original GSM version of the phone. The Qualcomm part not only provides support for the CDMA air standard required to make the iPhone 4 compatible with Verizon Wireless’ 4G wireless network, it also integrates GPS control circuitry, which was supported by a separate chip—Broadcom Corp.’s BCM4750—in the previous version of the iPhone 4, according to IHS.
"By using the Qualcomm baseband chip that integrates GPS, Apple can go without the discrete Broadcom GPS device," Rassweiler said.
The CDMA iPhone 4 also features a new revision of WLAN/Bluetooth module from Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., IHS said. The module integrates Broadcom’s BCM4329 WLAN/Bluetooth/frequency modulation chip, which was in Murata’s module for the last iPhone 4 iteration, the firm said.
"The Murata Wi-Fi combo module features the same core functional chip from Broadcom but has shrunk in size," Rassweiler said.
Beyond these changes, the CDMA iPhone 4 retains many of the same components seen in the previous-generation design, IHS said. Most notably, the design and supplier selection for the memory and the display subsystems—the two most expensive portions of the handset—appear to remain largely unchanged from the original iPhone 4, IHS said, though the firm added that its teardown analysis of the handset is still in progress.
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The CDMA iPhone 4, now available through Verizon Wireless, carries a bill of materials (BOM) of $171.35, compared to a BOM of $187.51 for the previous model, according to IHS. When manufacturing expenses are added, the total production cost for the CDMA iPhone 4 amounts to $178.45, according to IHS. The 16GB version of the phone retails through Verizon for $199.
Earlier this week, a teardown of the CDMA iPhone 4 by UBM TechInsights found that the device uses a multimode processor from Qualcomm Inc. that could open the door to a future global iPhone. Analysts at UBM TechInsights concluded that the redesigned antenna in the new version of the phone has several similarities to the antenna that caused dropped calls when it was released by AT&T last summer, including the same location of the so called "death grip"—the spot that many blame for the dropped call issue—though UBM TechInsights noted that the new version includes a Diversity Rx antenna to maximize CDMA reception.
But the IHS teardown analysis concluded that while the first version of the design featured an all-in-one approach combining GPS, Bluetooth and WLAN into one segment of the antenna superstructure integrated into the iPhone 4’s enclosure, the new version employs a separate Bluetooth/WLAN antenna.
"Apple has decided to isolate the Bluetooth/WLAN antenna from the enclosure/antenna assembly," said Wayne Lam, senior analyst for competitive analysis at IHS. "This design change leaves the top enclosure antenna segment to serve primarily as the GPS antenna and probably also as a CDMA diversity receive antenna. The use of antenna diversity is significant because this scheme improves signal reception performance."
According to Andrew Rassweiler, senior director of teardown services at HIS, the CDMA iPhone 4 is further proof that Apple never recycles a product design. "Apple’s new designs always exhibit changes, evolution and optimization," Rassweiler said. "This approach is evident not only in the antenna design but also in items like the integrated GPS functionality and the shrinking of the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo module. As we dig deeper into our teardown analysis, we’re certain that we will find a host of other tweaks all designed to improve quality but keep costs on a steady path of decline."
IHS concluded that the CDMA iPhone 4 design also shows increased integration of semiconductor components through its use of the Qualcomm chip, which replaces the Infineon PMB9801 baseband chip used in the original GSM version of the phone. The Qualcomm part not only provides support for the CDMA air standard required to make the iPhone 4 compatible with Verizon Wireless’ 4G wireless network, it also integrates GPS control circuitry, which was supported by a separate chip—Broadcom Corp.’s BCM4750—in the previous version of the iPhone 4, according to IHS.
"By using the Qualcomm baseband chip that integrates GPS, Apple can go without the discrete Broadcom GPS device," Rassweiler said.
The CDMA iPhone 4 also features a new revision of WLAN/Bluetooth module from Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., IHS said. The module integrates Broadcom’s BCM4329 WLAN/Bluetooth/frequency modulation chip, which was in Murata’s module for the last iPhone 4 iteration, the firm said.
"The Murata Wi-Fi combo module features the same core functional chip from Broadcom but has shrunk in size," Rassweiler said.
Beyond these changes, the CDMA iPhone 4 retains many of the same components seen in the previous-generation design, IHS said. Most notably, the design and supplier selection for the memory and the display subsystems—the two most expensive portions of the handset—appear to remain largely unchanged from the original iPhone 4, IHS said, though the firm added that its teardown analysis of the handset is still in progress.
Next: Title-1
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DestroCom
2/10/2011 4:08 PM EST
Interesting...seems like these guys nailed it before it even came out.
http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4212162/Verizon-iPhone4-shaves--25-off-Apples-cost
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dylan.mcgrath
2/10/2011 5:17 PM EST
Yes, good point. The guys at UBM TechInsights predicted almost a month ago that the Verizon version BOM would be around $175, about $25 cheaper than the original BOM for the GSM version, because of falling component prices and simplification. Obviously, UBM TechInsights and IHS iSuppli have a slight difference of opinion on the original BOM, because iSuppli estimated it at $187.51.
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chanj
2/13/2011 9:29 PM EST
The drop of BOM costs is predictable. I am very interested in knowing whether all the changes that Apple made on iPhone 4/ CDMA improve the product. I am expecting a big improvement in terms of data throughput and quality of service due to the nature of CDMA2000. Any owners' comments will be greatly appreciated.
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elctrnx_lyf
2/16/2011 4:25 AM EST
The pricing is very competetive definitely. The Quallcom have done themselves a great benefit by getting a place into the iphone CDMA and integrated GPS. We will see more intersting result when we compare the sales of CDMA vs GSM/3G iphones.
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