14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has positioned exFAT as a key technology helping to drive new digital multimedia experiences for users, especially as device manufacturers create products designed to deliver more than just traditional content. Customers running Panasonic products in the future will be able to enjoy the added multimedia capabilities synonymous with the inclusion of the new extended file allocation table (exFAT) file system available from licensing since early December 2009, through Microsoft Intellectual Property Licensing. Panasonic and Microsoft have penned an intellectual property licensing agreement which covers both exFAT and the traditional FAT32 (File Allocation Table) file systems.
“Microsoft’s exFAT file system technology is designed to enhance multimedia experiences for consumers, which is especially important as televisions and other consumer electronic devices are moving far beyond traditional media content,” notes David Kaefer, general manager of Intellectual Property Licensing at Microsoft. “This agreement with Panasonic is the most recent example of our commitment to licensing cutting-edge intellectual property to drive innovation across the industry.”
exFAT brings to the table numerous advantages for customers in terms of the size of files stored on electronic devices, but also boosting the access speed in comparison to older technology. With support available in Windows 7, exFAT allows users to store over 1,000 files in a single directory, and is not limited to file sizes of under 4 GB as is the case for FAT32.
Considered the modern successor of the FAT system, the exFAT technology is available from Microsoft since the first half of December 2009 through a flexible licensing program. Companies producing a specific group of consumer devices, such as cameras, camcorders and digital photo frames can integrate the exFAT into their offerings for a flat fee of $300.000. Using exFAT with mobile phones, PCs and networks implies different licensing costs, which need to be negotiated with the Redmond company.
Neither Microsoft nor Panasonic have disclosed the financial details of their agreement.