From 3G to 5G, Apple CEO Cook experienced three major mobile communications development periods

Apple launched their first batch of smartphone iPhone 12 series that support 5G network connections. There are 4 models in total, with a starting price of US$699.

The launch of the iPhone 12 series means that the iPhone has entered the 5G period. It also means that Tim Cook will experience three major mobile communications development periods from 3G to 5G during his tenure as Apple’s CEO.

On August 25, 2011, Cook succeeded Steve Jobs, who was seriously ill, as Apple CEO. On October 4, more than a month after taking office, Cook hosted his first press conference after becoming Apple CEO. The iPhone 4s was launched. Although 4G was already commercially available in some countries at the time, Apple’s iPhone 4s still did not support 4G and only supported 3G at the highest.

Although the iPhone 4s did not support 4G, in the second year after Cook became CEO, that is, in 2012, Apple launched the iPhone that supports 4G. The iPhone 5 released on September 13 of that year supports 4G in many countries. The internet.

After 2012, Apple successively launched iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 series and iPhone X, iPhone Xs series The iPhone XR and iPhone 11 series only support 4G networks at the highest. The iPhone SE launched in the first half of this year also failed to support 5G. The iPhone 12 launched today does not support 5G.

Although Cook signed a 10-year contract with Apple when he took over as CEO, it will expire next year, but Apple has retained Cook and granted him a new stock option in September, preparing to retain Cook until 2025 year.

But judging from the development trend of mobile communications, 5G will continue for 8 to 10 years before 6G will appear. Therefore, if Cook’s tenure is only extended for 5 years, he will not preside over Apple’s launch of 6G mobile phones as CEO. But if the CEO’s tenure is extended by 10 years, he will experience 4 periods from 3G to 6G during his tenure as Apple CEO.