Demand for USB 3.0 flash drives has been a disappointment thus far in 2013 with the penetration rate reaching only 10%. Industry observers anticipate the penetration rate will climb to 20-25% in 2014, but that will depend on whether the price gap between USB 2.0 drives and USB 3.0 narrows.

　　Despite slower-than-expected growth in the penetration rate for flash drives with USB 3.0, a number of Taiwan-based NAND flash device controller suppliers continue to strengthen their deployment in the segment, and have also come up with more cost-effective offerings to support and accelerate market and consumer adoption of USB 3.0-compliant peripherals.

　　Silicon Motion Technology, for instance, has launched a single-channel, high-performance and cost-effective controller solution for USB 3.0 flash drives to further enhance its competitiveness in the market segment. The new SM3267 delivers a transfer rate of up to 160MB/s read and 60MB/s write. By integrating an embedded crystal oscillator and all power ICs, the solution helps reduce customers' overall system cost.

　　Silicon Motion has begun sampling the new SM3267 controller chip, and expect SM3267-based USB 3.0 flash drives to be commercially available starting in the fourth quarter of 2013, the company indicated.