Micron Offers Subtle Flash Play

This column was originally published on RealMoney on Oct. 25 at 1:34 p.m. EDT. It's being republished as a bonus for TheStreet.com readers.

Micron Technology(MU Quote) seems to be at the bottom of most investors' lists when it comes to ways of playing strong demand for memory. However, Micron's strong September fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report and a potential deal with Intel(INTC Quote) could move Micron to the front of the pack in the coming quarters.

Let's start with the Intel angle. According to American Technology Research analyst Doug Freedman, Intel has been exhibiting its Robson "Instant On" technology recently. A computer with "Instant On" technology will boot up almost instantaneously using less power, which makes it attractive for use in laptops and other mobile devices.

In the past, Robson was based on a form of flash called NOR, which is common in cell phones. But more recently, Intel has been showcasing a NAND-based version of Robson, and the first version of "Instant On" could show up on the market with Microsoft's(MSFT Quote) Vista Office operating system. ...