Toshiba has placed controller orders for industrial solid-state drives (SSD) targeting the entry-level market segment with Phison Electronics and InnoDisk, according to industry sources.

Toshiba mainly uses its in-house produced controllers for SSD products.

In addition, Kingston Technology reportedly has diversified controller suppliers for entry-level and mid-range SSD products to JMicron Technology, the sources indicated. The device maker used to rely on Marvell's controller chips for its SSDs.

Phison, InnoDisk and JMicron do have a cost advantage over larger international peers such as LSI and Marvell, giving the Taiwan-based NAND-controller suppliers more opportunities to receive orders for entry-level to mid-range SSDs, the sources believe.

In other news, Phison was quoted as saying in previous reports that the company expects to make solid earnings in 2011, and then expand its revenues and market share in 2012. 

Source:digitimes