Micron intros 2-Gigabit low-power DDR2 memory for smartphones and smartbooks

BOISE, USA: Micron Technology Inc. announced that it is now sampling a monolithic 2-gigabit (Gb) low-power DDR2 (LPDDR2) memory device designed to provide mobile products, such as smartphones and smartbooks, with improved battery life and speedier system performance.

The new 2Gb LPDDR2 can be used as a stand-alone device or in combination with Micron's NAND for high-capacity multichip package (MCP) or package-on-package (POP) solutions. By stacking four of these 2Gb LPDDR2 memory devices, Micron can achieve an ultra high-density, 8Gb-based solution. As today's smartphones and smartbooks become more feature rich and application intensive, more memory is required to keep the system operating at peak performance.

"LPDDR2 today is targeted at the high-end handset and smartbook markets, and this new 2Gb design demonstrates Micron's commitment to serving those markets," said Eric Spanneut, director of mobile memory marketing at Micron. "In the next few years as we start to see crossover from LPDDR1 to LPDDR2 in the value-driven handset market, Micron's LPDDR2 portfolio is perfectly designed to address their needs as well."

The power and performance benefits of LPDDR2 make it a popular mobile memory solution for ARM-based systems. ARM is a market leader in providing processor IP and other key building blocks that enable a spectrum of mobile devices to combine exceptional performance with long battery life. Micron works closely with the ARM community to design LPDDR2 memory solutions into their mobile offerings, providing a complete package to the handset vendors.

"LPDDR2 memory is fast becoming an essential IP ingredient for a whole range of low-power applications being developed by ARM partners," said Rob Kaye, senior fabric marketing manager, ARM. "ARM Memory Controller and System IP have been verified alongside this latest LPDDR2 from Micron, enabling ARM partners to rapidly integrate this LPDDR2 memory into their designs."

LPDDR2 features and benefits
Micron's LPDDR2 product family has the low-power consumption, high performance, and wide temperature ranges for greater mobility and longer battery life.Specifically, Micron's LPDDR2 family:

* Operates at 1.2-volts, reducing the device's memory power consumption as much as 50 percent when compared to LPDDR1.
* Delivers data transferring speeds of up to 1066 Mb per second, boosting the operating capability of mobile applications.
* Supports advanced mechanisms for managing power usage, allowing for portions of the array to be powered down when not required.
* Offers a broad temperature range – 40 degrees to +105 degrees Celsius – maintaining performance in extreme environments.

Micron expects to be in mass production with the 2Gb LPDDR2 in the third quarter of 2010.