"Flash controller acquisitions

- Seagate has bought flash controller start-up DensBits
- SanDisk bought controller start-up Pliant
- LSI bought controller supplier SandForce
- OCZ bought controller supplier Indilinx
- Apple bought controller startup Anobit"

"Conclusions we can draw

One obvious conclusion is that drive suppliers need their own in-house controller operation. Five of the moves listed above involve that activity. None of the flash fab operators have bought drive controller companies, with the recent exception of Hynix which bought Link A Media Devices (LAMD) in June. This is a potential move by the other three flash foundry owners Samsung, Toshiba and Micron."

I will add that Micron/Intel bought, settled up with LEXAR for controller interests.

I reported the Apple - Anobit relationship here just a short time back....because it had a ZORAN connection to the Samsung case.

"None of the flash foundry owners have bought drive caching software companies and this is another potential acquisition avenue for them, if they want to supply more than a raw SSD for servers."

And that is yet another e.Digital story I've commented on over the years.

"What should disk spinners do?

If disk manufacturers are serious about getting into the flash drive business then they have to have their own controller operation. Toshiba does. Seagate has bought DensBits for that reason. Western Digital is out in the relative controller cold with its mostly embedded SSD business. It needs to develop or buy in technology if it is to expand out of that niche."

"Where is Western Digital? Out in the cold again."

"Where will they be in five years time? El Reg thinks they will be charging full tilt down the flash highway, not ceding an inch to the other flash product makers. We'll see. ®"

It's pretty much shaping up the way I've seen things come together. Where will e.Digital be in 5 years?

e.Digital sits on a very defined interface to flash.....and everything considered above is highlighted in their patents....

amazing they sit so still.

doni