[Hardware] NAND memory worth 9 billion dollars to South Koreans.

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What just a few days ago was a rumor with a certain foundation that was reflected in Intel's actions, now it is a reality that through an official statement both the blues and SK Hynix have offered to the media. Intel exits the NAND Flash business, thereby selling its entire $ 9 billion worth of NAND memory and storage business to South Koreans. A story that was simmered over a year ago and is now a reality.

You could say that Intel has not succeeded in succeeding in the NAND Flash business and that now it has to go out the back door behind its stubbornness when it comes to innovating in products that very few were interested in.

It is true that they have been pioneers and leaders in technology, but they have not been able to manage their cards and this advantage after billions of investment in R&D. Now its ally SK Hynix will take over the wafer and NAND components business, the Dalian manufacturing plant in China, and only the Optane business badge will remain for Intel.

Failure of Intel and SK Hynix in the NAND Flash business?
Intel-Optane

It could be said that it is, since Optane products, although they had very clear advantages, have not been received by the community with a desire to buy as such. And the problems have been very clear: high prices, more limited capacities and above all the continuous exclusivity towards the company's platforms.

This has made Intel products too exclusive and comparatively more expensive, in some cases with worse performance and in others with better, but not opening its technology to its rival has meant the death of this branch of Intel.

If to this we add the problems of the business, where it is going through continuous ups and downs in prices, where supply exceeds demand and where prices do not stop falling after countless attempts to increase, they have finally caused Intel to withdraw from the business definitely.

After the signing, SK Hynix acquires the entire Intel NAND SSD business, with its corresponding employees, IP and its associates, the already mentioned Fab in China and some other components through a previous payment of 7 billion, for which there would be 2 thousand million more to pay.

Said payment will be made after the so-called final closure, where it is expected in March 2025 and therefore it will be then that SK Hynix can take over the remaining assets, starting with the intellectual property related to the manufacture and design of NAND Flash wafers, R&D employees and Intel's workforce.

 

Therefore, Intel will maintain its Optane business, at least until closing, and will continue to invest money to develop "long-term" products. The sale has had a rebound in the form of shares on the stock market after which there has been a decline, where it is understood that investors are not very in agreement with what was signed.

Whatever happens, the closing date for Intel is set in 2025 and as such, it will say goodbye to a sector where it has not been able to break through.