Western Digital Corp. still has not introduced a lineup of its own-brand solid-state drives for consumers, even though the company owns a lot of various SSD-related intellectual property and offers SSDs to corporate users. Nonetheless, the things may change this year as the company is working on solid-state storage devices featuring inexpensive controllers from JMicron.
DigiTimes reports citing Taiwanese local press that JMicron will supply SSD controllers to Adata Technology, Transcend Information and Western Digital this year. While companies like Adata and Transcend use SSD controllers from JMicron for models that address the entry-level segment of the market, companies like Western Digital are not known for usage of such controllers.
Since JMicron’s controllers are used on low-cost solid-state drives, if WD plans to utilise them, then it indicates that the company is working on inexpensive SSDs, which are usually used by consumers. Theoretically, this may mean that the company wants to substantially boost sales of SSDs this year.
Adata, JMicron, Transcend and Western Digital did not comment on the news-story.
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KitGuru Says: It is surprising that Western Digital decided to enter the market of low-cost SSDs without unveiling high-end consumer-class solid-state drives first.