Apple on Monday announced that it has reached long - term supply agreement with five major maker of NAND newsflash memory . What ’s more , two of those company — Micron Technology Inc. and Intel Corp. — denote the constitution of a novel caller to fabricate NAND jiffy memory . The memory chips are used in Apple ’s iPod shuffle and iPod nano models .
Apple indicated that the accord fix NAND instant memory through the yr 2010 . Apple plans to prepay a total of US$ 1.25 billion for flash memory part during the next three months .
“ We want to be able to produce as many of our wildly popular iPods as the securities industry demand , ” said Steve Jobs , Apple ’s chief operating officer , in a statement .
The other company named in Apple ’s financial statement are Hynix , Samsung Electronics and Toshiba . Samsung is currently top the grocery store leadiner , accord to a late report by market research business firm iSuppli Corp. iSuppli estimates that Samsung hold more than 50 pct of the NAND flash retentiveness market as of the conclusion of the third fourth part .
Micron and Intel ’s newfangled venture is bid IM Flash Technologies , LLC . The companies enjoin that “ a significant dowery of each of their share ” of output will be commit to Apple ’s indigence .
“ We are look forrad to working with Micron , and are extremely proud of to have Apple broaden its family relationship with us , ” said Paul Otellini , Intel ’s Chief Executive and CEO .
Apple is also working with Intel on microprocessors that will service as the heart of a novel generation of Macintosh reckoner computer hardware . sooner this year Apple CEO Steve Jobs announce plans to change Macs from the IBM and Motorola - manufactured PowerPC computer architecture to chips made by Intel .
