Samsung Electronics and Toshiba are aggressively planning to ramp up their output of 8Gbit NAND flash chips, as Apple Computer plans to roll out 2GB and 4GB versions of its iPod Shuffle this June and August, respectively, according to sources at NAND flash makers.

Apple and Toshiba had no comment on the news, while Samsung did not reply to requests for a comment at the time of publication.

Samsung Electronics was reported to have started volume production of 8Gbit NAND flash memory in April of this year, while Toshiba stated it will begin producing 8Gbit parts this summer.

Apple currently offers 512MB and 1GB iPod Shuffle models.

Currently, only Samsung and Toshiba have the ability to volume produce 8Gbit NAND flash, with both companies producing the parts using 90nm technology, the sources said.

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Related news from other sites:

Toshiba to boost output of NAND flash memory (Apr 26) - Reuters

Samsung to produce 4Gbit NAND flash chips in March (Feb 15) - Yonhap News

Samsung vs. Toshiba vs. Renesas in NAND flash (Nov 22) - Silicon Strategies

Toshiba to move NAND flash memory to 55nm process in 2007 (May 17) - Silicon Strategies