Hynix develops 26-nanometer NAND flash memory

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By Lee Youkyung
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Hynix Semiconductor Inc., the world's
second-largest memory chipmaker, said Tuesday that it has developed a
26-nanometer based NAND flash memory chip, six months after its announcement of
the 30-nanometer level process.
Hynix will start mass producing the 26-nanometer based 64 gigabyte device in
July, the company said in an e-mailed statement. The company developed a
32-nanometer process flash memory chip in August.
"This new product will nearly double our productivity compared to 30-nanometer
based products," said Park Seong-wook, vice president at Hynix research center.
In the semiconductor industry, applying smaller nano process technology helps cut
production costs.
NAND flash memory stores data and music files and is used for portable music
players and smartphones.
Hynix was the third-largest flash memory maker in terms of market share in 2009,
trailing Samsung Electronics Co. and Toshiba Corp., Japan's biggest memory
chipmaker.
Samsung and IM Flash Technologies, LLC., a joint venture by Intel Corp. and
Micron Technology Inc., are expected to roll out a 25-nanometer NAND flash memory
device in the second quarter.
ylee@yna.co.kr
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