14 DAY TRIAL // NAND flash memory is used as storage in different types of devices such as digital cameras, music players and memory cards. Currently, Toshiba's flash chips can read and write data at 6MBs, but the company is planning to double the speeds (read/write) of its NAND flash memory chips during the next year. Faster chips will mean faster data transfers between computers and the devices.
Toshiba's plans will be fulfilled thanks to their new 56 nm (nanometer) assembly line that will open in 2006. The company manufactures now NAND flash chips using the 90 nm technology, but using the 52 nm technology will imply smaller and less power consuming chips that are also cheaper.
Also, the move comes in a time when the flash memory chip market is increasing because of the new music players that use this kind of memory. Economically speaking, Toshiba was the second ranked company in the flash memory market last year, but the company is trying to gain more market share in order to be able later to rise prices, as demand grows, or even in the case of a shortage.