SMIC, a Leading Foundry to Manufacture 8Gb Flash on Advanced Process Based on
Saifun Quad NROM Technology and Designs
NETANYA, Israel, Nov. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Semiconductor
Manufacturing International Corporation, (“SMIC”, NYSE: SMI, HKSE:
0981.HK), one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world, and Saifun
Semiconductors Ltd. (“Saifun”, NYSE: SFUN), a leading provider of Non-
Volatile Memory (NVM) technology, jointly announced today that they will
collaborate on delivering 8Gb Data flash using SMIC’s advanced process
technology. This unique product, expected to reach the market in 2008, will
be based on the Saifun Quad NROM technology and designs.
(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/200611101605.jpg )
Saifun Quad NROM four-bit-per-cell technology represents a breakthrough
in existing NVM technology by doubling the storage capacity of conventional
memory cells and providing a simpler architecture that requires fewer
manufacturing steps and reduces manufacturing costs. The development of 8Gb
Data flash on SMIC’s advanced process demonstrates the advantages of Quad
NROM in enabling the most cost-effective Flash manufacturing processes on the
market today. It will enable SMIC to enter the challenging Flash market with
reliable and high performance products.
SMIC aims to provide a comprehensive flash product offering to tap into
the emerging consumer electronics market in China and throughout the world.
SMIC has delivered its first engineering samples of its advanced 2Gb NAND
flash product based on the Saifun NROM two-bit-per-cell technology, and it
continues to target mass production of this product by the end of 2006.
“We are delighted to further our relationship with SMIC in bringing the
advanced Flash products to the market,” commented Dr. Boaz Eitan, Chairman
and CEO of Saifun, “We believe that the combination of the innovation and
dedication of SMIC with Saifun’s unique NROM technology positions both
companies very well to become significant players in the very lucrative Data
market.”
"We are excited to further expand our partnership with Saifun into more
advanced flash technology. This again demonstrates our mutual commitment in
the advancement of Flash products," said Dr. Richard Chang, President and CEO
of SMIC, "We believe Saifun’s leading edge technology development, combined
with SMIC’s reliable and advanced manufacturing capabilities, will allow us
to further strengthen our position in flash market.”
About SMIC
SMIC (NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries
in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in Mainland China,
providing integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing service at 0.35mm to 90nm and
finer line technologies. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC operates
three 200mm fabs in Shanghai and one in Tianjin, and one 300mm fab in
Beijing, the first of its kind in Mainland China. SMIC has customer service
and marketing offices in the U.S., Italy, and Japan as well as a
representative office in Hong Kong. For additional information, please visit
http://www.smics.com .
About Saifun Semiconductors Ltd.
Saifun is a provider of intellectual property (IP) solutions for the non-
volatile memory (NVM) market. The company’s innovative Saifun NROM(R)
technology allows semiconductor manufacturers to deliver high performance,
reliable products at a lower cost per megabit, with greater storage capacity,
using a single process for all NVM applications. Saifun licenses its IP to
semiconductor manufacturers who use this technology to develop and
manufacture a variety of stand-alone and embedded NVM products. These include
Flash memory for the telecommunications, consumer electronic, networking and
automotive markets. Among the companies currently licensing Saifun NROM
technology are Qimonda AG, Macronix International, NEC Electronics,
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, Sony Corporation,
Spansion, and Tower Semiconductor.
Safe Harbor Statements(Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995)
This press release contains, in addition to historical
information, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe
harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These forward-looking statements, including statements concerning the
timing specified products will be available to customers, the benefits of the
collaboration to customers and the continuing collaboration between SMIC and
Saifun, are based on SMIC's current assumptions, expectations and projections
about future events. SMIC uses words
like "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project" and
similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking
statements involve significant risks, both known and unknown, uncertainties
and other factors that may cause SMIC's actual performance, financial
condition or results of operations to be materially different from those
suggested by the forward-looking statements.