Freescale Semiconductor has put the first commercially
available magnetic memory chip on the market.
The new MR2A16A is a four megabit Magnetoresistive Random Access
Memory (Mram) chip, which uses magnetic materials combined with
conventional silicon circuitry.
MRam is a non-volatile memory technology that can store
information for extended periods without power. It stores data by
applying a magnetic field that causes memory cells to enter one of
two magnetic states, in a break from conventional memory
technologies – such as flash and DRam (dynamic Ram) – which use an
electric charge to store data.
MRam is seen as a potential replacement for flash memory in
mobile devices, and could also replace volatile DRam (dynamic Ram)
in PCs.
Freescale said its new chip was designed to offer a reliable,
economical, single-component replacement for battery-backed Sram
products and could be used in commercial applications such as
networking, security, data storage, gaming and printers.
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