One of the most prominent flash memory array manufacturer, Violin Memory Systems Inc. has announced that it has acquired $20 million in funding from one of the leading names in computer hardware, Toshiba as well as from other interested companies. This funding will be used by Violin to expand its line of flash memory arrays. As per the deal, Toshiba will be the principal supplier of NAND flash memory chips to Violin.

The NAND flash memory chips are the main components of some of the most used devices in modern technology, such as solid state drives (SSD), MP3 players and USB memory sticks and Toshiba is considered to be second only to Samsung Electronics in this field. This new deal between Violin and Toshiba is expected to be extremely beneficial for both the parties, as Violin will be able to achieve more growth being under the support of Toshiba and on the other hand, Toshiba will be able to get a better handle on the enterprise SSD market.

The deal couldn’t have come at a better time for Violin, as it main competitor in this field, Fusio-io already carries the solid backing of Samsung Electronics. Violin is said to be about an year behind Fusio-io in terms of development and with the Toshiba deal now in place, it would quite a helping hand for Violin.

According to Don Basile (CEO, Violin Memory),

“The addition of capital and access to Toshiba’s technology and strategic supply adds the final critical component to allow us to provide large quantities of our Memory Arrays to OEMs, end customers [and] distribution and solution partners, including our recently announced global FalconStor relationship.”

Via Computer World