It is now only a matter of time, perhaps as little as a few months, before the first terabit memory system is released for computers to replace hard drives, RAM, and perhaps CDs and DVDs. Such systems are expected to be non-volatile (meaning they hold on to their memory even when shut off) and faster, smaller, more dense and more energy-efficient than existing technologies.

In a press release today, Nantero announced that they will be working with LSI Logic in Gresham, Oregon on technology for manufacturing their nanotube-based memory solution. When the product will be available for purchase is not clear, but this is an obvious and major milestone toward that goal. Eventually, such technology will bring terabit memory to desktop and portable computers and vastly increased memory for handheld devices such as PDAs and cell phones.