SanDisk Corporation, the world's largest supplier of flash memory card storage products, and Skype, the global Internet communications company, yesterday announced that from that moment on the Skype software will come pre-loaded on SanDisk's newest Cruzer Micro and Cruzer Titanium lines of Skype-certified U3 enabled smart drives. This will allow consumers to make free PC-to-PC audio and video calls to Skype users in most major markets.

The U3 platform is a standard feature on all capacities of SanDisk's latest versions of its Cruzer Micro and Cruzer Titanium USB smart drives and has been developed to enable users to load onto a flash drive a wide range of applications.

"Skype likes to partner with the brightest and best in their industries," said Saul Klein, vice president of marketing for Skype. "SanDisk is an excellent addition to the growing Skype ecosystem of partners and will allow us to reach an entirely new set of Skype users."

SanDisk's Cruzer Micro and Cruzer Titanium with U3 enable Skype users to take their Skype account complete with their contacts, settings and preferences on a device that is smaller than a pack of chewing gum and make calls, with video as an option, from any PC such as those in Internet cafes and hotels.

"SanDisk sees the U3 platform as the next major step in mobile computing," said Carlos Gonzalez, senior director of USB for SanDisk. "The Cruzer Micro and Cruzer Titanium with U3 will enable people to carry around, on a small, convenient USB flash drive, their complete personal desktop with all their favorite U3 smart applications, settings and contacts and allow them to work on any PC, wherever they go. Skype is such a convenient communication tool for professionals and the whole mobile generation that it has become an essential part of their work and digital lives. So we are proud to announce that we have established a close cooperation with Skype, enabling us to include the software exclusively on our Cruzers."

The SanDisk Cruzer Micro with Skype preloaded is available in U.S. and Europe at a suggested retail prices ranging from $39.99 to $199.99. Capacities are 512 megabytes (MB), 1 gigabyte (GB), 2GB and 4GB. SanDisk Cruzer Titanium with Skype comes in 1GB and 2GB, at suggested prices of $74.99 and $119.99 respectively, and is now shipping in most major markets. The new drives will come with one free month of Skype voicemail for the mobile user.