Fixed and mobile broadband devices spur sales of NOR flash memory

The economic contribution of fixed-line and mobile broadband devices such as PCs and tablet computer systems extends beyond the completed hardware.

Each unit consists of hundreds of individual components, passing the profitability back along the electronics industry supply chain to semiconductor specialists.

Industry specialist iSuppli has revealed that, in 2011, it expects to see 3.96 billion units shipped in the NOR flash memory segment.

Although mobile phones are using fewer of the memory modules, portable broadband devices such as tablets and fixed computer systems are both using more.

"While the vast majority of embedded NOR shipments during the coming years will go to hard disk drives and PCs, tablets and e-book readers represent the fastest-growing sales opportunity," the analyst claims.

Over the coming four years, annual growth of between seven and nine per cent is predicted as the market achieves steady and stable expansion, taking shipments to more than five billion units by 2015.