Hynix and Micron worried Anobit no longer a choice

Hynix and Micron are purportedly looking to alternatives for flash memory controllers in the wake of Apple's purchase of Anobit. The two are believed by Digitimes to be talking to Phison, Silicon Motion Technology, and Skymedi for alternatives to the longevity- and speed-boosting chips Anobit has been supplying. The two are thought by tipsters to be worried that Apple will either wield all the bargaining power or make Anobit an exclusive.

Apple is believed to be using Anobit's hardware on top of Hynix, known through teardowns to be one of its frequent partners. Micron isn't often connected to Apple, but its link with Intel makes it one of the bigger flash memory suppliers.

Virtually all the focus of the Anobit deal would be on mobile devices. In order to get both dense and long-lasting memory suited to notebooks, phones, and tablets users might keep for several years, Apple will want multi-level cell flash chips that pack in much more storage but with the speed and durability of single-level cells.

Apple has been silent on the Anobit acquisition and might not disclose it publicly until either its quarterly results or an independent SEC filing.

By Electronista Staff