Chip giant Intel has “1,000 people or more” working to get its LTE modem technology into Apple’s next-generation iPhone, VentureBeat said.

With Intel’s presence in the mobile market way behind its computer performance, it was said that the company is “pulling out the stops” to win the Apple deal. While a potential partnership with Apple is lucrative, it would also represent a high-profile success for Intel, which has lacked significant deals with top-tier players.

VentureBeat suggested that Apple may source components from both Intel and Qualcomm, with the latter being its incumbent modem supplier.

It also mooted that the alliance could be part of a plan to create a system-on-chip containing both an Apple Ax processor and LTE modem, which could deliver speed and power management boosts. While Apple would design the chip, it would license Intel’s modem technology, with Intel also leading the way when it comes to manufacture.

It was noted that Intel’s radio technology was gained through the chip giant’s acquisition of Infineon, which supplied modems for early iPhones before being displaced by Qualcomm.