Toshiba Corp, which expects to be producing 4M-bit memory chips at a rate of 1m a month before the end of the year, intends to open up the market for the new generation parts by offering them at a price dramatically lower than anyone had expected – $80 a time in large-lot quantities according to the Newsbytes Japan newswire. Samples from the major Japanese manufacturers are currently going out at about $210, but they had been looking at a price of about $140 once they were in volume production. It is likely that the other manufacturers will be forced to match Toshiba’s pricing, but those suspecting another fiendish Japanese plot to infuriate the US trade negotiators should understand that Toshiba’s first concern is to achieve Japanese market leadership and that its move is prompted by the hot competition it faces from its local siblings.
