SanDisk and Sony Expand Memory Stick Capacity

Monday, January 12 06:43 am
Computer Business Online ComputerWire Staff

SanDisk and Sony have announced the joint development of two expanded Memory Stick formats to achieve a maximum storage capacity of 2-terabytes and enable a maximum data-transfer speed of 60 mbps. Skip related content

The new Memory Stick Format for Extended High Capacity of up to 2TB of data is 60 times higher than the Memory Stick PRO format's current 32GB limit. The new format is scheduled to support the MagicGate copyright protection technology and Access Control Function.

Memory Stick HG Micro format has an 8-bit parallel interface and offers an increased interface clock frequency of 60MHz, enabling 60Mbps data transfer speed, which is three times faster than the conventional serial 4-bit parallel interface and 40MHz interface.

Yoram Cedar, executive vice president of OEM and corporate engineering at SanDisk, said: "SanDisk and Sony share a long collaborative history of developing products and technologies. Both companies have enjoyed great successes with the Memory Stick PRO format, and the expansion of these formats to improve capacity and performance that will significantly impact mobile and consumer electronics markets."

Since September 1998 when the Memory Stick format was introduced, shipments are estimated to have surpassed 500 million units.

SanDisk launches world’s largest capacity micro memory cards

16GB of storage capacity.
Ross Catanzariti (Good Gear Guide) 01/10/2008 10:40:00

SanDisk this week announced the launch of the world’s largest capacity microSDHC and Memory Stick Micro (M2) cards — the first cards of their kind to offer 16GB of storage.

The microSDHC cards will support most new mobile phones and a range of MP3 players including SanDisk’s own Sansa range, while the M2 cards are compatible with Sony Ericsson’s new generation of mobile phones.

"Handsets have become far more than just phones — they’ve become mobile jukeboxes, mobile offices, even mobile movie theatres”, said Avi Greengart, research director for mobile devices at Current Analysis. “16GB gives consumers the ability to carry their digital content with them and still have room to do more with their mobile phones."

SanDisk’s 16GB mobile memory cards come with a five-year limited warranty and will initially be available at Crazy John’s stores in October.

The 16GB microSDHC card will be available for an RRP of $141, while the 16GB M2 card has an RRP of $188.