Samsung First to Develop Linux OS-based NAND Flash Software for Mobile Phone Industry

Business Wire, June 22, 2004

SEOUL, South Korea -- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced semiconductor memory technology, today announced the first Linux-based NAND Flash software solution, offering higher performance and cost effectiveness for next-generation mobile phones. Samsung's Linux NAND Flash memory software allows the NAND Flash memory to store code as well as data. By eliminating the need for NOR Flash memory and supporting the Linux operating system with a demand-paging function, Samsung can lower overall costs and reduce space requirements in mobile handhelds.

Samsung's Linux file system, Robust File System (RFS), also offers greater data preservation capabilities in case of power disruption as well as wear-leveling for higher reliability. To address the problem of data loss from corrupted file allocation tables (FAT), Samsung's Linux-based NAND Flash memory solution also supports Transactional FAT for external memory cards. Compared to the conventional JFFS2 and YAFFS open file systems, Samsung's Linux file system enhances the NAND Flash write-speed up ten and four times, respectively.

This Flash memory solution is also available with Samsung's OneNAND(TM) Flash memory, which boasts a faster read speed compared to the conventional NAND Flash. With its advanced multi-tasking function, Linux will further accelerate the adoption of NAND Flash in next-generation mobile phones.

Importantly, as Samsung's new Linux NAND Flash memory software, RFS has completed verification in the Linux kernel 2.4.20-based Montavista Linux environment, Samsung's NAND Flash solution addresses the diverse needs of system developers for advanced performance, high reliability, shortened development time, and reduced costs.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2003 parent company sales of US$36.4 billion and net income of US$5.0 billion. Employing approximately 88,000 people in 89 offices in 46 countries, the company consists of six main business units: Corporate Technology Operations, Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is the world's largest producer of color monitors, color TVs, memory chips, TFT-LCDs and VCRs. For more information, visit www.samsung.com.