The cut-throat competition in the market for flash memory has claimed its first victim. Renesas of Tokyo has said that it will stop making flash memory.

The departure comes at a time when Samsung and Toshiba are both aggressively investing in this market. Meanwhile AMD is preparing to spin off it's flash making division while Intel is preparing an entrance into the segment.

But although Renesas' departure could suggest a maturation in the market, the reality is that things are just getting started. The iPod has merely scratched the service of what portable flash-based device can do.

For us mortal consumers this is only good news. The more cutthroat the competition, the lower prices will get.

... things getting dirty

Tags: renesas, flash memory, samsung, toshiba

22 Dec 2005