What the SD Memory Card can do
The SD Memory card can transfer data from one source to another, camera to laptop, for example, much faster than a floppy or a cable solution. It has a SDMI compliant security, which means that you can purchase music electronically from the Internet. It also provides data security via a write protect switch, just like a floppy, to prevent accidental erasure. The cards come in a variety of sizes - from 32MB to 128MB. By late 2001, cards with 256MB will be available, with 1 Gigabyte cards expected to be available by 2003.

SD Card Background
The SD Memory Card is designed to meet the converging security, capacity, ergonomic and performance requirements of emerging audio, video, data and multimedia consumer electronics markets. SD Memory Card packaging is based on nine-pin SD interface that enables data transfer rates of up to two megabytes per second and will eventually allow transfer rates of up to 10 megabytes per second. The SD Memory Card is ergonomically designed; the card weighs two grams and is approximately the size of a postage stamp - 32 mm long, 24mm wide, 2.1 mm thick.

The SD Memory Card specification was defined by the Secure Digital Association (SDA), whose founding members include Toshiba, Matsushita (Panasonic) and Sandisk. The SD Memory Card is designed to comply with all levels of the Secure Digital Music Industry (SDMI) security requirements. Copy protected (categories II and III) material can be stored on the card. The copy-protected material can be secured either by a unique card bound identification (category II) or by an active cryptography algorithm (category III) that involves challenge/response protocols against a private key.

NAND Flash Background
The SD Card is based on NAND flash memory. Toshiba, a recognized pioneer in flash technology, invented NAND flash technology in 1989. NAND flash is becoming the storage media of choice for solid-state storage applications because of its high-speed programming capability, high-speed erasing, small block size and low cost. The sequential nature (serial access) of NAND-based flash memory provides notable advantages for these block-oriented data storage applications. Toshiba's NAND flash memory products are optimised for general solid-state storage, image file storage and audio for applications such as solid-state disk drives, digital cameras, set-top boxes and industrial storage.

Application
The following table should assist you in determining which card size is best suited for your needs.

Size of SD Memory Card	32MB	64MB	128MB
Telephone Numbers	800,000	1,600,000	3,200,000
CD Quality Music	40 min.	80 min.	160 min.
Pictures @ 1.5 mega pixels	96	192	390
Pictures @ 2 mega pixels	64	128	260
Pictures @ 3 mega pixels	43	86	170
Pictures @ 4 mega pixels	32	64	120

Reliability and performance are also the focus of the SD Memory Card. The card provides the ability for 10,000 insertion/removal cycles into the SD Memory Card slot. With the design base founded in Flash memory, 200,000 to 300,000 data write operations are also possible with the SD Memory Card. Due to the non-volatile nature of flash memory, the card does not require any power to hold data, opening a great range of use in distribution scenarios.

Further uses
Uses for the SD Memory Card are limited only by the imagination. With PDAs, users can backup their data, access information such as electronic books and maps, listen to music via MP3s and with the Toshiba Bluetooth SD Card, communicate and synchronise data effortlessly. With further input/output (I/O) SD Cards in the planning stage, the ability to connect other devices such as global positioning systems, should soon be available.

The range of products that are incorporating SD Card slots is growing rapidly. The products available today are: Audio Players, Digi-Cams, TV's, LCD projectors, faxes, car navigation systems, PDAs, DVD players, digital cameras, game systems, and printers.

Compatibility
The SD Cards are compatible with the Multimedia card. This means that you can use your old Multimedia cards in the SD card slot, but not vice versa. Compatibility also assures that your investment is protected and functionality is maintained.

Future uses of the SD Memory Card
The SD Memory Card has the flexibility in format, size and bandwidth for future applications. There are industrial considerations that range from rapid data deployment to implementation into medical equipment, such as glucose meters. In systems such as video cameras and other items that require high bandwidth memory requirements, the applications are remarkable. Imagine using a 1 Gigabyte postage stamp sized card to move data from your PDA to your laptop, with minimal waiting periods and knowing that the data is secure. This is the aim of the SD Memory Card technology.