Amid reports of a potential end to the partnership between Apple and Goldman Sachs, it has been revealed that JPMorgan Chase is now engaged in talks with Apple about taking over the popular Apple Card program. According to The Wall Street Journal, negotiations have been gaining momentum in recent weeks, although a deal is still expected to be months away as both parties work out the details.

One of the main sticking points in the talks between Chase and Apple involves certain concessions sought by the bank. Chase is looking to pay less than the $17 billion face value of outstanding balances held by Apple Card holders. Additionally, the bank is seeking to remove the synchronized Apple Card billing cycles that match the calendar months, as these have caused customer service issues.

While JPMorgan Chase appears to be the frontrunner in discussions, Apple has also been exploring alternatives, having engaged in talks with Synchrony Financial and Capital One regarding the Apple Card program. Similarly, Goldman Sachs had discussions with American Express last year as the current partners explore potential alternatives.

In separate news, Apple has released the highly anticipated iOS 18 software update. After three months of beta testing, the update is now widely available for iPhone XS models and newer devices. The release introduces several new features and improvements designed to enhance user experience and functionality. More details on the update can be found in the complete list provided by Apple.

Looking ahead, Apple is rumored to be planning another event in October to announce new Macs and iPads. If this holds true, it will mark the fourth consecutive year that Apple has held an event during this month. Last year, the company unveiled new MacBook Pro and iMac models with M3 chips, and expectations are high for what will be revealed this time around.

Meanwhile, the demand for the recently launched iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max seems to be lower than initially anticipated, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Based on shipping estimates and a supply chain survey, Kuo suggests that sales of all four iPhone 16 models have not met expectations since pre-orders became available.

As iOS 18 is set to be released to the public, it is worth noting that the Apple Intelligence features, which have generated much interest, will not be available until the release of iOS 18.1 in October. These features will continue to roll out gradually in subsequent iOS versions, with compatibility limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models or any iPhone 16 model.

While discussions between JPMorgan Chase and Apple progress, it remains to be seen how the negotiations will unfold and which party will ultimately take over the Apple Card program. As the technology giant continues to innovate and expand its product range, the future of Apple Card lies in the hands of potential new partners.