Aptina Looking for Foundry

Digitimes sources report that Aptina is negotiating with Taiwan wafer fabs and DRAM makers to outsource its image sensor production. Currently, Aptina uses Micron's 8-inch fab in Italy. Although this fab is satisfying Aptina's demand for now, with the company anticipates more notebook and handset image sensor orders, it will face a capacity shortage in the next few quarters.

TSMC and Nanya 8-inch fabs are among the candidates. Aptina pans to finish certification of the new partner's manufacturing process by the end of this year and will likely start utilizing the new capacity in 2009.