AMD, Fujitsu bite into Intel's flash market share

INTEL HELD ON to its worldwide number one position of flash memory supplier in the first quarter of this year but lost share to its rival AMD, according to a survey from iSuppli.

Intel's share fell by two per cent compared to the fourth quarter last year, said the market research company, hit by weak demand for NOR flash used in mobile phones.

Both AMD and its close partner Fujitsu grew share because they took the decision to slash prices in the first quarter, while Intel decided to put its prices up in January.

But major Dramurai Samsung also saw its figures fall in the first quarter, affected by aggressive competition from rivals in the NAND flash arena including Toshiba. Toshiba also used the price cutting weapon to bite into Samsung's share.

Samsung also suffered from falling average sales prices for memory cards in the quarter.

Although some types of memory remain in the doldrums, iSuppli said that 2003 will be a good year for flash memory, used in an increasing number of electronics devices. It anticipates that sales will account for $8.7 billion this year, a rise of 11 per cent from last year. µ

L'INQ
iSuppli