Just a week ago, Intel announced that it had developed the world's first working 45 nanometer SRAM chip. The company also plans to have production ready processors using the process available in the second half of 2007. Intel will initially be supplying these 45nm parts from their $3 billion fab in Arizona and later in 2008 from their $3.5 billion fab in Israel.

Sony and Toshiba have been collaborating since February of 2004 while NEC and Toshiba have been in 45nm talks since November of 2005. Today's announcement brings both collaborative efforts together to develop 45nm LSI (Large-Scale Integration) process technology at Toshiba's Advanced Microelectronics Center in Yokohama, Japan.

As applications in the digital consumer, mobile, and communications arenas evolve, there are greater requirements for advanced system LSI technologies to achieve higher performance and functionality, such as high-speed data processing, as well as lower power consumption and smaller chip dimensions. The miniaturization of process technology to meet these requirements is becoming increasingly critical and complex.