Samsung Electronics has decided to partake in the development of 28-nanometer low-power semiconductor technologies with six other companies, including IBM.

IBM said on its Web site Friday that companies --- including Singapore’s Chartered Semiconductor, Germany’s Infineon Technologies, and GlobalFoundries and STMicro from the U.S. --- have also agreed to participate in the project.

IBM said production is anticipated for the second half of 2010, explaining that a 28-nanometer low-power technology evaluation kit was first released in December for early access clients and later again in March for the general marketplace.

The 28-nanometer technology platform is said to provide a 40 percent improvement in performance and more than a 20 percent reduction in power compared with 45-nanometer technology.