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     This story was printed from CdrInfo.com,

     located at http://www.cdrinfo.com.

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Elpida Memory and Spansion are broadening an existing relationship for joint development of NAND process technology and products to include a foundry services agreement for NAND Flash memory.

Elpida has also secured a non-exclusive license to Spansion NAND IP based on MirrorBit charge-trapping technology. Elpida will produce the new NAND products at its 300mm Hiroshima wafer fab and each company will separately market products to their customers.

Joint development and technology transfer activities for NAND products are well underway in the Hiroshima fab. As part of the expanded alliance, the companies intend to identify additional areas of cooperation such as NOR Flash memory products and manufacturing.

"The alliance with Spansion and the licensing of Spansion NAND IP enable Elpida to develop advanced NAND products which, when combined with our leading DRAM products, allows us to better service markets including cellular handsets and digital consumer," said Yukio Sakamoto, president and chief executive officer of Elpida. "Spansion has developed a very flexible, scalable Flash technology with its MirrorBit charge-trapping technology. We're excited about joint NAND development and the potential for further collaboration in NOR Flash memory."

Elpida gets access to a competitive and scalable NAND technology while giving Spansion a cost-effective manufacturing solution with reduced research and development expenditures.

"Collaborating with Elpida furthers Spansion's strategy," said John Kispert, president and CEO, Spansion. "The joint NAND development activity and foundry agreement allows Spansion to efficiently expand its product offerings and bring additional value to our customers."