iPhone triggers boom in flash memory
Source: iSuppli Corp.
Thanks in large part to Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and the growing ranks of iPhone imitators, worldwide sales of NAND-type flash memory are expected to rise nearly six-fold from 2008 to 2013, according to a report by iSuppli Corp. issued Wednesday.
Global revenue from sales of NAND flash for mobile phones could hit $932.5 million in 2013, according to iSuppli, up from $166.5 million in 2008 — a compound annual growth rate of 41.1%.
“NAND flash makers can thank Apple Inc. for starting this trend, with its iPhone models injecting new life into the memory market," writes Michael Yang, senior analyst for mobile and emerging memories at iSuppli. "However, with the introduction of the a new generation of ‘iPhone killers,’ multiple smartphone makers now are helping to drive NAND demand.”
Apple sold 5.2 million iPhones in its last fiscal quarter and is planning to introduce a version the phone in China. "This," says Yang, "will open up the market for the iPhone to a new potential audience of 1.3 billion people.”
Yang also credits Apple with raising the bar for how much memory manufacturers are expected to pack into their smartphones.
