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ProMOS Technologies, a Taiwanese DRAM maker that cooperates with Hynix Semiconductor, will establish ties with Micron Technology of the U.S., the world's fifth-largest DRAM maker, to import 50 nm technology from the American chipmaker rather than from Hynix, a Taiwanese IT magazine reported recently.
Some observers speculate that this development could end the ties between Hynix, the world's second-largest DRAM maker, and ProMOS, the world's eighth largest chipmaker.
Hynix until now has been sourcing about 7 to 8 percent of its total DRAM sales from ProMOS, with the Taiwanese company manufacturing for Hynix on a production-on-commission basis.
Hynix recently caused an uproar in Korea over the possibility that it might leak its state-of-the-art 54 nm technology to ProMOS.
Taiwanese IT magazine DigiTimes, quoting a Taiwanese expert Monday, reported that ProMOS plans to start mass-producing 50 nm DRAM chips in early 2009 after obtaining a license from Micron for the 50 nm technology.
A Hynix executive said, "We're trying to find out the veracity of the news report through our local corporation in Taiwan. If it establishes ties with Micron, ProMOS will have to give up all its existing production technologies. So it won't be easy for them to seal a deal." If the report proves true, Hynix could find itself in a difficult spot.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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