PCM info
A Singapore-based spokesperson for Numonyx told ZDNet Asia the company remains on track to ship PCM chips before the end of the year. She added that the chipmaker earlier this year began shipping to customers samples of a PCM prototype, codenamed Alverstone. Some of this clientele are based in Asia, she said.
According to Gartner's Gordon, Numonyx's sampling customers for the 128Mb prototype include mobile-phone makers such as Nokia. When contacted, a Nokia spokesperson told ZDNet Asia the company does not comment on unannounced products or technology.
Samsung, said Gordon, is another company "active in sampling".
A Samsung spokeperson told ZDNet Asia in an email: "Samsung is presently developing 60nm-class, 512Mb PRAM in response to the demand for NOR-based applications, such as mobile phones."
The company "will be initiating sample availability" this year, following which a timeframe for commercialisation of the product will be determined, said the spokesperson. Samsung is also targeting to release a 45nm version in 2010, he said.
Gordon also highlighted Numonyx's recent announcement to replace its "velocity non-volatile RAM", currently based on flash technology, with PCM technology at the 45nm-process node by 2010.
With Numonyx and Samsung likely to be the early market entrants, Gartner said both companies will be able to set pricing at a level that will yield good returns on investment for themselves, and that will also be acceptable to their customers.
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