Samsung Semiconductor had a 32Gbit NAND flash chip on its Electronica stand. Made in 40nm process technology the 32Gbit memory is currently in the laboratory but is scheduled to be on sale in twelve months’ time.

“The introduction of the 32Gbit depends on the market," Ralf Ebert, manager for flash marketing at Samsung, told Electronics Weekly.

When EW pointed out that the projections for the NAND market next year are massive over-capacity and plunging prices, Ebert said: “New applications can change that.”

On the Samsung stand were the new applications. First, a 36GByte solid state disc to replace hard disc drives in ultra mobile computers, which is currently being shipped to Fujitsu and Samsung’s PC division among other customers.

Second, a hybrid hard disc drive incorporating NAND flash so that the HDD boots up as fast as a chip. This new type of HDD is being supported by the upcoming Windows OS Vista.

The hybrid HDD is being made in 80GByte, 120GByte and 160GByte densities. Again Fujitsu is among current customers which are taking deliveries of the hybrid HDDs.