Macronix International and Winbond Electronics are expected to extend production from NOR flash to NAND flash, viewing that NAND flash tends to replace NOR flash for use in popular consumer technology devices such as smartphones and tablets.

In mid-2010, Macronix unveiled plans to venture into the production of NAND flash memory. Chairman Miin Wu was quoted as saying that the company would deliver samples of its in-house developed NAND chips – available in densities ranging from 512Mb to 2Gb – to potential customers in the first half of 2011. The chips initially would be manufactured using 75nm process technology, and then be transitioned to 57nm.

There has been no further announcement about Macronix' planned entry into the NAND flash market since the previous remarks.

Winbond in recent years transformed itself from a PC DRAM manufacturer to a supplier of niche-market DRAM and NOR flash chips. The company has also begun developing production technologies in-house, in a move to reduce its technological reliance upon overseas makers.

Winbond has not publicly disclosed any plans to further expand its product mix to include NAND flash.

In addition, several Taiwan-based memory chipmakers are also eyeing the possibility of entering the NAND flash territory, with some already having available production technologies, the sources indicated.

Powerchip Technology has stepped into production of NAND flash chips. The company claimed that it has been developing NAND production technologies in-house since it obtained a technology license from Renesas in 2005.

Inotera Memories also stands a chance of grabbing NAND-chip orders from Micron Technology. A Micron executive was quoted as saying in previous reports that the company has left open the possibility of expanding its ties with Inotera from DRAM chips to NAND flash.

Inotera is a DRAM-manufacturing joint venture between Micron and Taiwan-based Nanya Technology. Both Inotera and Nanya use Micron's designs to make chips.

By: DocMemory
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