Intel, Micron challenge Samsung with first 50 nm flash memory

Santa Clara (CA) - Samsung, which has been leading the NAND flash market with more than 50% market share and is the typically first to introduce a new production process for flash memory may see more competition down the road: The NAND flash joint venture between Intel and Micron, IM Technologies, is first to announce sampling of a 50 nm chip.

The chip is the first significant announcement to come out of IM Technologies since the announcement of the joint venture back in November of last year. According to a press release distributed on Tuesday, the chips have a capacity of 4 Gb(it) and are currently available in low quantities. Mass production of the 50 nm memory is planned to begin sometime in 2007. Spokesperson Daniel Francisco declined to comment on possible capacities of Flash memory modules at that time.

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