14 DAY TRIAL // SanDisk introduces a 4 GB microSD High Capacity card at 3GSM World Congress 2007. The new device is said to feature the largest capacity of the world's smallest removable flash memory card as of yet. One 4GB microSDHC card can store more than 1,000 digital songs or more than 2,000 high-resolution pictures or up to 8 hours of MPEG 4 video.
SanDisk is currently sampling the new 4GB microSDHC card to major phone manufacturers and mobile network operators. Engineering samples are now available for evaluation in order for the mobile phone makers to upgrade the firmware in their handsets so that memory slots can support the new type of card.
"Content is driving the demand for higher capacity flash memory cards in mobile phones," said Jeff Kost, vice president and general manager of the Mobile Consumer Solutions division at SanDisk. "The new 4GB SanDisk microSDHC card will allow handset manufacturers and mobile network operators to plan rich media services for their customers who increasingly see their phone as their camera, video player, gaming system and music player."
The new SDHC standard is set to replace all former SD-based cards that feature capacities larger than 2 GB. SDHC is compatible with the new SD 2.00 specifications that are required for cards and hosts to support up to 32GB capacities. The specifications were developed with the aid of the SD Association, an industry standards board, which also defined three speed classes for speed and performance capabilities. Accordingly, the new 4 GB SDHC cards adhere to the SD Speed Class 2 Rating specifications which define a minimum sustained transfer speed for SDHC cards.
SanDisk also offers special adapters with which microSD and microSDHC cards can be "stepped up" to fit into a variety of other electronic devices that do not feature miniSDHC and SDHC slots.
The retail 4 GB cards will be launched some time later this year, while OEM prices have not been determined yet.