Socket Communications Inc. (OTC: Bulletin Board SCKT; Pacific Stock Exchange SOK) today announced that the company will work with leaders in the mobile computing industry to define and implement the SD I/O Card, a new standard for plug-in connectivity cards based on an extension of the SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card specification. SD I/O Cards will make it easy to add input/output capability such as Bluetooth wireless networking and Ethernet connectivity to future handheld computers, Internet appliances and other portable electronic devices. Socket expects the SD I/O specification to be approved this year and plans to offer compatible plug-in cards in 2001.
Approximately the size of a postage stamp, SD I/O Cards will have the same dimensions as SD Memory Cards. The miniature plug-in cards will work in expansion slots that will also accept SD Memory Cards or MultiMediaCards, flash memory storage modules currently used in Internet music players, mobile phones, digital cameras, handheld computers, and other electronic devices. Socket is a member of the SD Association (SDA), a trade association established in January 2000 to set industry standards for SD Cards and promote their wide acceptance. Socket participates in the SDA's I/O working group, which is actively engaged in the incorporation of input/output functions, such as Bluetooth, into the SD Memory Card format. Other SDA member companies include Casio, Compaq, Hewlett Packard, LG Electronics, NEC, Palm, Samsung, SanDisk, Sharp and Toshiba.
"Standards-based expandability adds to the attractiveness of a handheld computer by offering users a wider range of enhancements than are possible with a proprietary scheme," said Byron Connell, vice president, consumer markets group, for Palm, Inc. "We are pleased that Socket is committed to making SD I/O a standard and we believe our customers will benefit from having access to Socket's innovative plug-in cards."
"Pocket PCs are already the most expandable device on the market today, and Socket is a key supplier of Compact Flash expansion options for the Pocket PC," said Rogers Weed, Marketing Director of the Mobile Devices Division at Microsoft Corp. "Looking into the future, we are excited to be working with Socket in supporting SD for both IO and storage to offer our customers even smaller expansion standards to make the most of their Pocket PC."
"The SD Card, which SanDisk co-invented, is poised to become the next standard for adding memory and connectivity to a wide variety of portable devices," said Nelson Chan, senior vice president of worldwide marketing for SanDisk Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK). "As the world's largest supplier of flash memory cards, we expect that SanDisk SD cards will be purchased as a key accessory product by the many users of new cell phones, Internet music players, camcorders, digital cameras, handheld computers and other popular portable products. We are happy to work with Socket and other industry leaders to help define the SD I/O specification as a platform-independent standard."
"As handheld computers become slimmer, plug-in connectivity cards will have to slim down as well," said Kevin Mills, president and CEO of Socket Communications. "We are excited about the possibilities for SD I/O cards and pleased to take a leading role making this technology an accepted standard."
[ Home | Contact | MobiChat | Experts database | Let's do it ]
Comments to the content of this page can be posted on the MobiChat discussion group