CES 09: SanDisk and Sony Announce Super High Capacity Memory Cards

SanDisk and Sony, at this year’s CES, have announced the joint development of two expanded formats – “Memory Stick format for Extended High Capacity” (Tentative name) that expands the “Memory Stick PRO format series to achieve a maximum storage capacity of 2-terabytes (TB)1, and the “Memory Stick HG Micro” format that enables a maximum data-transfer speed of 60 megabytes per second (MB/s)2, making it one of the fastest-smallest memory card formats to date.

The demand for memory cards capable of storing high-resolution pictures and videos is increasing as the image quality of high-definition digital still cameras, DSLR cameras, and camcorders continues to evolve. The new “Memory Stick Format for Extended High Capacity” format hopes to meet the demand for high-capacity memory options for storing media by enabling the recording of up to 2TB of data, which is 60 times more storage capacity than the “Memory Stick PRO” format’s 32-gigabyte (GB) capacity limit.

By this format expansion, “Memory Stick PRO Format for Extended High Capacity” shatters the terabyte mark for data storage, opening the door for wider applications. This new format is scheduled to continue to support the “MagicGate” copyright protection technology as well as the “Access Control Function”.

The second new format to be adopted is the “Memory Stick HG Micro” which has an enhanced 8-bit parallel interface and features an increased interface clock frequency of 60 mega hertz (MHz), enabling 60MB/s (480 Mbps in theoretical value) maximum data transfer speed. This is three times faster than the conventional serial 4-bit parallel interface and 40MHz interface clock frequency adopted in the “Memory Stick Micro”, offering data-transfer speeds of the “Memory Stick PRO-HG” on a micro-size memory card.

“Both companies have enjoyed great successes with the Memory Stick PRO format in the past, and we are sure that the expansion of these formats to improve capacity and performance will be quite compelling. This technology provides a framework for us to develop products that will significantly impact mobile and consumer electronics markets.” said Yoram Cedar, executive vice president, OEM and corporate engineering, SanDisk.

Hidenosuke Kanai, President of Electronic Devices Business Group of Sony Corporation, said, “Today, we are happy to announce the latest result of the joint development on the “Memory Stick” format to offer a memory card with unprecedented high capacity. Through the introduction of these new formats, Sony hopes that the “Memory Stick” will open up new possibilities and greatly expand its applications of flash memory cards.”

The pricing and availability of the devices is yet to be announced.