Taiwan-based NAND flash device makers including A-Data Technology, Transcend Information and Power Quotient International (PQI), and flash controller supplier Phison Electronics have begun to source NAND flash wafers from SanDisk, according to industry sources.
The sources claimed SanDisk has now become one of these players' upstream suppliers, along with its partner Toshiba. Speculation about SanDisk mulling changes to its strategy to sell NAND flash in wafer or die form has been circulating in the Taiwan memory sector since September 2008.
SanDisk is also looking to withdraw or settle NAND flash-related patent infringement lawsuits in the US against those Taiwan-based NAND flash device and controller chip makers who have become its customers, the sources said.
A-Data has issued a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) disclosing SanDisk has dropped a patent lawsuit against it. The announcement follows Phison's recent filing with the TSE indicating it has settled with SanDisk over a patent suit filed in the same US court.
SanDisk reportedly has also tapped the white-box market by supplying microSD cards to downstream device makers.