No one has a perfect memory, but it seems that Samsung continues attempting to get closer. Its most recent development is known as phase-change random access memory, or PRAM. Though patents for idea, finding the right balance of chemical materials has been tricky. PRAM works by taking advantage of properties of chalcogenide ceramic material. This material can exist in two physical states, amorphous and crystalline. It can be made to switch between two states by differing pulse of an electric current sent through it.

How about flash-style memory that’s as quick as RAM, in part because it doesn’t have to erase before recording something new? But PRAM is anticipated to last ten times longer than current flash memory, and be less expensive. Samsung has already verified a 64 MB version of memory, and expects it to achieve marketplace.
The decrease expense of PRAM comes from two factors. First, it is basically an inexpensive material we are talking ceramics here, essentially a fancy form of clay made with traces of certain elements. Germanium is one most commonly used for PRAM. While at $600 per kilogram, it’s a lot more expensive than copper it’s much cheaper than gold.

The second reason PRAM is less expensive is that it requires twenty percent fewer steps to make. PRAM is also physically smaller than NOR about half the size.
Samsung thinks PRAM has huge potential as a alternate for standard flash memory in multi-function handsets and other mobile applications. There is also potential for use on desktop. PRAM looks like as if it must be a natural for such a drive.

One point that is Samsung getting behind PRAM as an alternative for NOR flash, when in theory it must work also to replace any type of flash memory, mainly more popular NAND. Samsung holds less than seven percent of worldwide NOR flash market. The market leader in NOR flash holds just about a third of market. NAND flash is Samsung’s bread and butter; it’s also the much more common variety. Samsung holds more than forty five percent of this market. Samsung is also Apple’s leading supplier of flash on the iPod. So it has potentially a lot to gain, and a lot to lose, from this new technology.