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Top > About Sony Group >Sony Corp. Info >Press Releases >2007 > SANDISK AND SONY ANNOUNCE SxSTM MEMORY CARD SPECIFICATION FOR PROFFESIONAL CAMCORDERS

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Sony Corp. Info
The following information is true and accurate at the time of publication.
April 16, 2007

SANDISK AND SONY ANNOUNCE SxSTM MEMORY CARD SPECIFICATION FOR PROFFESIONAL CAMCORDERS

SxSTM offers high capacity and high-speed data transfer

SanDisk Corporation
Sony Corporation

SanDisk® Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) and Sony Corporation today announced that the two companies have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the intention of developing the SxSTM (S-by-S) memory card specification, with high-speed transfer technology compliant to the ExpressCardTM industry standard.

SxSTM memory cards will leverage the technology strength of SanDisk and Sony, who have a long and successful history of co-developing and promoting flash memory products. With this high-performance and high-reliability memory card, both companies are targeting workflow improvements for professional camcorders and non-linear video editing systems.

The SxSTM memory card specification uses flash memory and complies with the ExpressCardTM industry standard, and the card connects directly to computer systems through the high-speed PCI-ExpressTM bus. ExpressCardTM has been rapidly adopted by PC manufacturers to replace the legacy PC CardTM form factor, giving the SxSTM memory cards broad support in post-production hardware.

Sony will adopt this high-speed SxSTM memory card specification in its "XDCAM EXTM" series professional camcorders. SxSTM memory cards from SanDisk and Sony are expected to be available later in 2007.


  • Prototype SxSTM Memory Card



Benefits

     High-speed data transfer of large video files.

SxSTM memory cards are the first native PCI ExpressTM solid-state storage media1. PCI ExpressTM has a maximum data transfer speed of 2.5 gigabits per second, twice as fast as PC CardTM-based storage media. In addition, SanDisk and Sony have optimized the technology protocol for controlling communication between hardware and SxSTM memory cards to enable high-speed transfer of large files, such as high-definition video, to PCs for non-linear video-editing. The target transfer speed of SxSTM memory cards is 800 megabits per second2.

     Compact Size.

The SxSTM memory card specification uses ExpressCardTM/34 modules (width: 34mm, height: 5mm, length: 75mm), half the size of PC CardsTM. This enables the design of professional camcorders that are smaller and lighter, while still offering high storage capacities.


"Sony and SanDisk share the goal of providing leadership in high-performance, high-capacity recording solutions for professional video," said Eli Harari, Chairman and CEO of SanDisk. "I am proud of the close cooperation we have had with Sony over the years, and I look forward to the exciting new products that SxSTM memory cards will enable."

Yutaka Nakagawa, Executive Deputy President and Corporate Executive Officer of Sony Corporation, said: "Sony has successfully collaborated with SanDisk Corporation in promoting the Memory Stick formats. Significant milestones have been the Memory Stick PRO format in 2003, the Memory Stick Micro in 2005 and Memory Stick PRO-HG in 2006. I am delighted by today's joint announcement of this new technology, which expands our collaboration to a new area, the professional video market, offering great benefits to users in this field. With the introduction of this SxSTM memory card, we will seek to expand its use throughout professional video applications to enable highly efficient workflow systems."

About SanDisk Corporation

SanDisk is the original inventor of flash storage cards and is the world's largest supplier of flash data storage card products using its patented, high-density flash memory and controller technology. SanDisk is headquartered in Milpitas, CA and has operations worldwide, with more than half its sales outside the U.S. SanDisk Web Site: http://www.sandisk.com


About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/


 

1   As of April 16, 2007, Source: SanDisk Corporation and Sony Corporation.
2   In the case of optimized compliant host devices.
- All trade names are either registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.


 

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including expectations for new product introductions, specifications, applications, markets, pricing, customer acceptance and customers that are based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among others: market demand for our products may grow more slowly than our expectations or there may be a slower adoption rate for these products in new markets that we are targeting, and the other risks detailed from time-to-time under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, Form 6-K, Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 20-F. We do not intend to update the information contained in this press release.






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