Sandisk changes tack in NAND competition

DEVICE MAKERS have begun to source NAND flash wafers from Sandisk, the same outfit that has been suing them, according to industry sources.

A-Data Technology, Transcend Information, Power Quotient International and flash controller supplier Phison Electronics have all been rushing to sign supply contracts with Sandisk, apparently.

SanDisk has been suing some of these same companies for nicking its technology, but it is starting to look like its heart was never in it.

According to Digitimes, Sandisk has been talking about changes to its strategy to sell NAND flash in wafer or die form since September 2008. Doing that means the outfit wants to withdraw or settle its NAND flash-related patent infringement lawsuits it filed earlier in the US against those same Taiwan-based NAND flash device and controller chip makers that have now become its customers.

A-Data has already issued a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange disclosing that Sandisk has dropped a patent lawsuit against it. The announcement follows Phison's similar recent filing indicating it has settled with Sandisk over a patent suit filed in the same court. µ