Infineon produces its first 65-nanometer sample chips

German chip maker Infineon Technologies AG has produced its first sample chips using advanced 65-nanometer manufacturing technology.

The samples are the result of an research and development alliance with IBM, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing and Samsung Semiconductor, Infineon said Tuesday in a statement.

With the help of 65-nm technology, the German manufacturer plans to design chips for devices with low-power, high-performance requirements, such as mobile phones, it said.

An ARM9-based subsystem, a major component of mobile phones, was one of several components successfully verified in the sample chips, according to Infineon.

The first mobile-phone product samples using Infineon’s 65-nm technology will be released in the first quarter of 2006, with volume production slated to start in the fourth quarter, the company said.

The Infineon announcement also reflects the manufacturer’s continuing transition to a “fab-lite” model focused on outsourcing demand for 65-nm products to partners, such as Chartered Semiconductors, which manufactured the samples.