Apple plans to roll out an iOS update specifically to evade the ban imposed on iPhone sales in China. The Cupertino giant announced that the update directly addresses patent violations claim made by Qualcomm.
Earlier this week, a Chinese court issued a ban on sale of all iPhone models in the country, since the iPhone 6s. The court found Apple to be infringing upon two separate Qualcomm patents.
However, Apple says it won’t stop selling iPhones in China despite the alleged patent violation. The Cupertino giant claims that such patent-infringement claims are only limited to older versions of iOS, and the latest iOS update no longer breaches these patent claims.
Apple is now reporteldy planning to roll out a software update next week, and it appears iPhones running older versions of iOS may be specifically targeted by the new update.
“Based on the iPhone models we offer today in China, we believe we are in compliance. Early next week we will deliver a software update for iPhone users in China addressing the minor functionality of the two patents at issue in the case,” Apple said in a statement to Reuters.
Specific details about the update remain slim for now, however, Apple is likley to reveal more information by next week when it rolls out the update.
As per the ruling by Chinese court, iPhone models that breach Qualcomm patents include the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and the iPhone 6s. That said, Qualcomm suggests it’s looking into more such patent infringement claims on the new iPhone Xs and iPhone Xr.
The legal spat between Apple and Qualcomm goes on. And from the looks of it, we aren’t going to see the two tech giants come to a mutual agreement.
