MicroSD
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- The correct title of this article is microSD. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.
microSD is an ultra-small, removable flash memory card format originally based on SanDisk's TransFlash card format. It is primarily used in mobile phones, but because of its size and increasing capacity it is also being used in handheld GPS devices, portable audio players, flashcards for Nintendo DS emulation, and expandable USB flash memory drives.
At 15 mm x 11 mm x 1 mm—about the size of a fingernail—it is currently the smallest memory card format commercially available. It is about one quarter of the size of a standard SD card but can be inserted into an adapter which allows the card to be used in devices with an SD card slot.
TransFlash and microSD cards are essentially the same, and each can be used in devices made for the other type. There is one exception, which is that unlike TransFlash, microSD devices have the capability to support NFC. [1]
As of September 2006, microSD cards are commonly available in capacities from 128 MB through 2 GB, with unconfirmed samples of 4GB cards claimed to exist as well.
Contents |
[edit] History
The microSD format was originally created by SanDisk. It was originally called T-Flash, and then TransFlash, before being rechristened microSD when adopted by the SD Card Association (SDA). Other flash card formats approved by the SDA include miniSD and SD.
The SDA announced the microSD format at CTIA Wireless 2005 on March 14, 2005, and approval of the final microSD specification was announced on July 13, 2005. At launch, the microSD format was available in capacities of 32, 64, and 128 MB. SanDisk introduced a 2 GB microSD card in July of 2006 (coinciding with the Verizon Wireless's launch of the music-oriented LG "Chocolate" phone), initially priced at US$99.
[edit] Manufacturer Support
The format is currently supported primarily by mobile phone manufacturers, of which Motorola was the first adopter. Garmin produces a line of GPS receivers that ships with microSD cards for map storage.
[edit] Devices
- BenQ-Siemens: E61, EF81, EL71, S82, SFG75, S88
- Garmin hand-held GPS: eTrex Vista Cx, Legend Cx, Ventrue Cx, GPSMap 60cx, 60csx, 76cx, Map76csx, StreetPilot i2, Street Pilot i3, etc.
- HTC: Hermes (TyTN). Also badged as: O2 XDA trion, T-Mobile MDA Vario II, Vodafone 1605 VPA Compact III, Orange SPV M3100, Dopod CHT 9000, Dopod 838 Pro, hTc Z, Qtek 9600, iMate JasJam, Cingular 8525, Cingular 3125, Swissom XPA v1605, SoftBank X01HT, UTStarcom 6800
- i-mate: Smartflip, JasJam
- Kyocera: KX55XO
- LG Electronics: U8360, U8380, U880, VX-8300,VX-8500, VX-8600, VX-9900(enV), LX550(Fusic), CE500, CU320, CU500
- Motorola: V360, E398, V635, V710, A780, E815, A840, E770, E815, E895, C975, V975, C980, V980, A1000, A1200, M1000, E1000, V1000, ROKR, V1050, V1150, SLVR L7, E1060, E1120, RAZR (V3i, V3x, V3m, V6), i870, i580, A1200, MotoKRZR K1
- Nokia: 3250, 6233, 6234, 5200, 5300, 5500, 6125, 6131/6126/6133, 6275i, 6300, E50,N95 (2007)
- Sagem: My V-76 and My X 6-2
- Samsung: SGH-D600, SGH-D807, SGH-D820, SGH-D900, SGH-Z400, SGH-Z500, SGH-Z700, SGH-ZM60, SGH-i300, SGH-i607, SGH-P850, SGH-D510, SGH-X700, SGH-E770, SGH-E900, SGH-X800, SGH-zx10, SPH-A920/MM-A920, SPH-A940, SCH-A950, SCH-A930, SCH-A990, SGH-T809, SGH-T609, SGH-T519, SGH-D807, a9
- Sandisk: Sansa e200 series, SanDisk Sansa c200 series
- Sanyo: SCP-8400
- SuperCard Lite
- RIM (Research In Motion): BlackBerry series, BlackBerry series, Blackberry Pearl 8100
All devices which support SD cards can support microSD with the SD card adapter which is often included in the packages which increases the full compatibility list. SanDisk has a list of mobile phones with memory card support [2] (in PDF format) which gives the type of the memory card slot, and also lists the still camera support, video capture support and music support.
SanDisk's E200 series MP3 players also support microSD card expansion, allowing additional capacity of up to 2GB presently. It is not known if larger capacities are supported.
