OYSTER BAY, N.Y.-High Speed Download Packet Access technology stands to create a major shift in the cellular handset memory market when the technology is deployed in networks and handsets beginning next year, according to research from Allied Business Intelligence.
The technology will put pressure on NOR FLASH memory vendors, such as Intel and the AMD/Fujitsu alliance, said ABI. HSDPA promises 3.6 megabits per second downlink speeds as opposed to UMTS’ 300 kilobits per second in the downlink, according to the report, “Memory in Cellular Handsets.” However HSDPA will require new handsets with at least double the memory of current handsets.
“This will be needed to store the increased content coming over the airwaves,” said Alan Varghese, director of semiconductor research at ABI Research. “And we also need increased memory just to store and run the software for HSDPA.”
The result will be increased demand for NAND FLASH memory over NOR FLASH memory. Samsung, Toshiba and Renesas are among the companies ABI said already are making NAND memory and are well positioned for this change.
