Intel and Micron Joint Venture: IM Flash Technologies

IM Flash Technologies was formed in January 2006 to create a manufacturing powerhouse for multi-level cell (MLC) NAND Flash memory. The joint venture of Intel, the world's largest computer chip maker, and Micron Technology, Inc., one of the world's leading makers of memory chips and image sensors, promises to be the supernova of the $16 billion NAND Flash memory market. That industry is expected to grow to $30 billion by 2010 and IM Flash Technologies is poised to deliver.

What Makes IM Flash Technologies Unique?

IM Flash Technologies is the first company in the industry to merge the expertise of two industry giants, Intel and Micron. IM Flash Technologies is run by two CEOs, Dave Baglee from Intel and Rod Morgan from Micron. IM Flash Technologies is the first company to use 50nm node processing and already has plans for more processing innovation. Brian Shirley, Micron vice president of memory said, "Micron will continue its commitment to NAND with a rapid transition to the 50nm process and through continued work on advanced nodes for the introduction of even higher density products."

Laurie Bott, Corporate Community Affairs Manager for IM Flash Technologies in Lehi, Utah, said that the established state-of-the-art processes of Intel and Micron is what gives IM Flash Technologies a leading edge over other MLC NAND Flash memory chipmakers. The company began shipping chips to Intel and Micron just a short eight months after construction began on the facility - a time frame that set all records in the chip manufacturing industry.

IM Flash Technologies began wafer production in January of 2006. According to Bott, $500 million of inventory from IM Flash Technologies has been committed to Apple, Inc. The two parent company partners, Intel and Micron, invested approximately $4 - $6 billion on the Lehi project. Both Intel and Micron sampled 4 gigabit (Gb) devices in 2006, and mass production for a range of densities on the industry's first 50nm node has begun at IM Flash Technologies.

How Will MLC NAND Flash Memory Rock Your World?

It is expected that the cutting-edge processes used at IM Flash Technologies will dramatically change the way consumer electronics are manufactured, sold, and used. The tiny MLC NAND Flash memory chip can store huge amounts of data and does not need a constant power supply to retain data. Unlike hard disk drives, flash memory has no moving parts, making it more tolerant to bumps and shock. Flash memory provides about 100 times faster access to data than traditional flash drives. This will improve the mobility and functionality of products like cell phones, PDAs, USB drives, MP3 players, digital still cameras, digital video cameras, car navigational systems, and data recorders. There are also possibilities for hybrid hard drives in products like personal computers, computer laptops or "Flashtops", and GPS navigation.

The chips that IM Flash Technologies manufactures have record-breaking read-write capabilities. So:

Your MP3 players will be able to download music faster and find songs faster.
Your video camera will be able to locate files about 4 times faster.
Your video camera will record at high-definition (HD) quality in real-time MPEG-2 compression.
Your digital camera battery will last longer because the camera can convert files faster.
You will be able to load files on your laptop computer ("Flashtop") much faster.
Your computer laptop battery will last about 30 minutes longer.

CONSIDER THIS: With MLC NAND Flash memory, a typical word processing file will open in less than a tenth of a second. A maximum-size word processing file will open in less than 5 seconds. A huge PowerPoint presentation with hundreds of slides will open in less than 30 seconds. You will be able to open Windows XP in less than 15 seconds.

The chips that IM Flash Technologies manufactures will have a long utilization lifetime. So:

Your video game performances can be stored for a longer period of time.
Talking Elmo can talk for many more years before his voice runs out.
Electronic books will become more feasible with their longer life span.

CONSIDER THIS: Your digital camera memory card will be able to read and write about 1,000 images a day for 7 years before it needs to be replaced. The digital picture frame you got for Christmas will be able to store and play thousands of pictures for years without wearing out.

IM Flash Technologies also plans to use their advanced manufacturing expertise to produce chips that will enhance the functionality of industrial and commercial products like mobile medical equipment, flight recorders and avionics, mobile handsets, meters, government identity tags, and GPS guidance and receiver systems. The 50nm process technology for MLC NAND Flash memory will presumably make products smaller and cheaper, enabling more innovation in such applications as removable storage, handheld communication devices and home entertainment systems. Company officials at IM Flash Technologies promise to go even beyond the 50 nm process technology to meet the very high demand across multiple flash densities.

Perhaps the explosive energy and ability to synergize innovations of both Intel and Micron, will position IM Flash Technologies to take over the multi-level cell NAND Flash memory universe. Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Micron Technology, Inc., is one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets DRAMs, NAND Flash memory, CMOS image sensors, other semiconductor components, and memory modules for use in leading edge computing, consumer, networking, and mobile products. Intel and Micron plan to build a joint venture NAND Flash memory manufacturing facility in Singapore, and when fully operational in 2008, will be the largest facility of its kind in Singapore.

IM Flash Technologies Fun Facts

IM Flash Technologies is located 25 miles south of Salt Lake City in Lehi, Utah:
Has 2.3 million square feet of building space that could hold 1,536 average size single-family homes.
Has the cooling capacity to cool 10,000 single-family homes.
Has concrete equaling 863 miles of sidewalk.
Has 2.4 million gallons of fire water storage that could fill 48,000 5-gallon aquariums.
Has 21.5 miles of piping for exterior underground water lines.
Has parking spaces to accommodate a single line of cars 8.5 miles long.
Has 1,850 employees.

Sources:

Interview with Laurie Bott, Corporate Community Affairs Manager, IM Flash Technologies

Press Releases from http://www.imftech.com/

John G. Spooner, Flash Memory: Today the iPod, Tomorrow the World?
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1896385,00.asp

Richard A. Quinnell, Multi-Level Cell NAND Flash - The Consumer Choice
http://www.edn.com/article/CA503389.html?ref=nbsa&q=MLC+NAND+Flash+%2D+The+Consumer+Choice