NAND flash controller supplier Phison Electronics is optimistic about its business operation in the first quarter of 2010, with strong orders on hand from Toshiba. Phison has estimated January revenues at more than NT$2.6 billion (US$81.1 million), compared to NT$2.3 billion in December 2009 and NT$1.3 billion a year ago.
Phison said it has received orders for 57 million flash memory device controllers from Toshiba, including those for USB drives and memory cards supporting the chip vendor's 32nm process technology.
Thanks to better market conditions for NAND flash, Phison shipped a record 98 million controller chips in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the company. Phison attributed it to demand for USB drives and memory cards.
Phison saw fourth-quarter revenues amount to NT$7.9 billion, up 15% on quarter and 82% on year. It reported pre-tax profits of NT$765 million for the fourth quarter, and NT$2.25 billion for full-year 2009. The earnings translated into a pre-tax EPS of NT$15.34 for 2009.