SanDisk, the Californian maker and distributor of flash storage cards and other similar products, has announced the release of the world's first 16GB memory cards for mobile phones. The new cards are not yet commercially available, but they will be starting October. Best Buy will start to sell them next month, while Verizon, North America's second largest mobile carrier, should also offer them in November. Both companies will ship the new products only in the US.

 

While this is good news, there’s more. The best part is that SanDisk has also decided to roll out 16GB microSDHC cards, as well as 16GB Memory Stick Micro M2 cards. This way, about all advanced mobile phones will be able to use the new products (including Sony Ericsson ones, known for supporting only M2 cards).

 

SanDisk has said that its 16GB microSDHC card will become available for a retail price of $99.99 (about 70 Euros). The 16GB Memory Stick Micro M2 card will cost you $30 more, meaning $129.99 (90 Euros). All the cards come with a five-year warranty, which is more than enough.

 

"Handsets have become far more than just phones – they have become mobile jukeboxes, mobile offices, even mobile movie theaters. Flash memory cards have increased in storage capacity, but even an 8GB card may be too small for anyone with GPS map data, a few movies, a game or two, a presentation file and other applications. There is an acute need for more mobile storage capacity. 16GB gives consumers the ability to carry their digital content with them and still have room to do more with their mobile phones," declared Research Director for Mobile Devices at Current Analysis, Avi Greengart.

 

To make users better understand why a memory card is useful for their handsets, SanDisk has launched a campaign entitled Wake Up Your Phone – you can check out its website at this address.