Under the terms of the agreement, Toshiba and Samsung will share technological expertise to co-develop a 64-megabit NAND flash memory utilizing 0.4 micrometer CMOS process technology. The companies target completion of development by the end of this year, with sample shipments starting next spring. Commercialization and marketing activities will be done independently by the two companies.

This new round of cooperation between the companies complements a 1992 agreement, under which Samsung develops and produces NAND-type flash memories that are compatible with Toshiba's products in key technical specifications, such as memory cell architecture, chip size and pin configuration. The agreement offers users the benefit of having same- specification flash memories available from both companies.

Flash memory is a promising alternative to disk-based storage systems for portable information/communications equipment such as personal digital assistants (PDA), and also suitable for memory cards for PC and other applications. Toshiba is already mass-producing 16-megabit NAND device, and expects to start sample shipments of 32-megabit memories in the fourth quarter of this year. The company also launched NAND flash memory cards supporting the PCMCIA (Rel. 2.1) interface this March. They offer a memory capacity of up to 40MB.

The joint development will allow both companies to accelerate the early introduction of 64-megabit NAND devices to the market, and establish a leading position in the burgeoning flash memory market.

The versatility of flash memory promises steady market growth. The world wide market for 1995 is estimated at approximately US$1.3 billion, and this is expected to rise to approximately US$6.2 billion in the year 2000.

Outline of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

 
Headquarters:            Seoul, Korea 
Vice-chairman & CEO:     K.H. Kim 
Capital:                 3,42 billion won 
Number of employees:     52,000        
Business Category:       Production and sales of 
                         semiconductors, information and 
                         communications equipment, and 
                         consumer products