Memory is extremely cheaper these days, and this is great news for all memory-hungry users, as well as for programmers that bother less with each day to optimize the code of their applications(which is not that good, in my opinion). Alliances between hardware producers usually lead to better and cheaper products, and it's my pleasure to inform you about a new such alliance which has just been forged between Hynix and ProMOS.


Hynix Semiconductor and ProMOS Technologies, currently engaged in a strategic alliance, announced they signed an agreement which allows Hynix to receive manufacturing capacities, while providing ProMOS with process technology. At the same time, Hynix Semiconductor will buy a stake in ProMOS Technologies.

According to Min-Liang Chen, chairman and president of ProMOS Technologies, "Hynix has always been recognized as one of the foremost technology leaders in global DRAM industry. This is particularly so in the case of the 50nm-class stack process technology. With the signing of the new strategic alliance agreement today, the relationship between Hynix and ProMOS will become much closer."

The details look like this - Hynix licensed the 50nm-class DRAM stack process technology to ProMOS, and ProMOS will offer DRAM products made using the fabrication process from its 300mm fab capacity. At last, Hynix will cooperate with some investors and plans to buy 8 to 10 percent of ProMOS through private placement, in order to strengthen their present relationship.

Mr. Chen concluded by saying that "Instead of being mere technology partner, Hynix will now become one of ProMOS’s major shareholders. I believe this synergistic relationship will be of great benefits to both companies and their respective customers."