Advanced Micro Devices Inc and SGS-Thomson Micorelectronics NV yesterday announced an agreement to make Flash memory chips to a common standard – but the two companies will independently develop compatible products. Both claim the agreement will hasten growth in the worldwide Flash memory market which is already growing a 35% a year, especially at the lower voltage end where, they claim most design is taking place – they see big demand for parts that need only a single power supply. Advanced Micro already has a joint venture company with Fujitsu Ltd making Flash chips to the same standard. SGS says that its co-operation agreement of last year with Mitsubishi Electric Corp to develop 16M-bit Flash memory is complementary to this agreement.
