The market for NAND flash memory, which is mainly used to store data in mobile handsets, portable music players and other consumer electronic devices, will likely be ignited by demand from tablet computing devices and low-capacity solid-state drives (SSD) designed for low-cost netbooks and dual-drive desktop PCs, according to industry sources.
The sources have noted that there is potential for Apple's upcoming iPad to buoy the NAND flash market in 2010. Launch of iPad-like devices is also to help boost demand for NAND flash in 2010, and further stabilize the chip's price trend.
Intel's push of its 'affordable' SSD series is also expected to become a trend for other SSD promoters, the sources said. An anticipated surge in lower-capacity SSD offerings would stimulate demand of NAND flash chips, though the drive has not seen its broader adoption in PCs.
Intel has recently announced its X25-V SSD for US$125, a couple of days after OCZ Technology released its sub-US$100 Onyx SSD. "This new value entry from Intel means more customers will have the chance to experience the benefits of SSDs, not just in notebooks or high-end PCs, but in mainstream desktops as a boot drive. This is the right price point to help convert more users to SSD computing," Intel quoted a product manager at e-tailer Newegg.com as saying.
In addition, the sources believe prices for high-density NAND flash chips will be able to remain stable throughout 2010, whereas the market for low-density parts is more competitive with more pressure on pricing.