Samsung’s 4GB 70nm flash paves way for larger capacity MP3 players – update 1

06/01/05 - newratings.com

NEW YORK, June 1 - (newratings.com) – Samsung (SSUN) has begun the mass production of its 4GB NAND flash memory based on the 70nm process, paving the way for a decline in flash memory prices and increased memory capacity in MP3 players and mobile phones.

The 70nm process is one step ahead of the existing 90nm process, leading to smaller, faster and less expensive memory chips. Samsung’s 70nm 4GB NAND flash writes data at the speed of 16 MB per second, a 50% improvement over the 90nm 2GB NAND flash. The company was able to develop the smallest memory cell size through 70 nm technology. Samsung announced that approximately one-third of its NAND flash memory would be based on the 70nm process by the end of this year. The company plans to increase its production from 240,000 wafers per month to as high as 290,000 wafers by the end of the year. Samsung's 70 nm NAND paves the way for the launch of MP3 players and mobile phones with significantly increased memory capacity. Kim Soo-Kyoum, program director for semiconductor research at IDC, said the prices of NAND flash chips would halve by December this year due to increased production of lower-priced chips by Samsung.