14 DAY TRIAL // Hony is reportedly planning outsourcing to the Hiroshima Elpida DRAM plant. They even have a potential client for their DRAM if they win the bid. The company in question is none other than China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation.
SMIC is a semiconductor foundry in mainland China, providing integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing services on 350nm to 40nm process technologies. This is one of TSMC’s traditional competitors, although SMIC has fewer manufacturing capacities.
The company is headquartered in Shanghai, but don’t think it is not in contact with the big players. Its notable customers include Qualcomm, Broadcom, and Texas Instruments.
The move is logical for Hony as both Hony and Lenovo, belong to the Legend group.
The Japanese memory maker Elpida has been a constant provider of DRAM for Lenovo along with Samsung, but considering the recent friction the former had with Samsung, Legend is more likely to protect its own suppliers and keep it in the family.
SK Hynix has already withdrawn from the bid and Toshiba says it won't fight for the dying Elpida.