Revenue from shipments of removable memory cards for handsets is expected to be over $7 billion in 2007, compared with $5 billion expected from headset shipments including both Bluetooth and wired headsets, according to a recent study from ABI Research. Memory cards will continue to be the highest revenue-generating mobile phone accessory category over the next five years. ABI Research industry analyst Shailendra Pandey says, “With few exceptions, memory cards for handsets are bought by users separately from the handset purchase, whereas an increasing number of headsets are now being supplied inbox with the handsets.”

Kingston announced it's microSDHC Flash memory cards, starting with a 4GB microSDHC card in a Class 4 speed rating. Providing speed and capacity increases in the smallest footprint available, Kingston microSDHC cards are perfect to meet the rising multimedia demands of mobile phones and digital devices able to take advantage of the advanced expansion memory platform. “As next-generation mobile phones promise cutting edge functionality in ever-smaller form factors, demands increase on hardware to deliver these features, particularly in the area of expansion memory where storage and read/write performance becomes greater,” said Jean Wong, Flash memory product manager, Kingston.

Micron Technology, Nokia, Samsung Electronics, Sony Ericsson, Spansion, STMicroelectronics, and Texas Instruments announced that they support the creation of a far-ranging industry specification for removable memory cards and embedded memory solutions being standardized by the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association (JEDEC), a open-standards organization in the semiconductor industry. JEDEC is well known for its expertise in the standardization of component technologies and solutions.

SanDisk Corporation launched the SanDisk Express line of high-performance flash memory products, based on the ExpressCard technology standard. SanDisk Express products aim to deliver best-of-class solutions for professional videographers and photographers who demand speed, durability and reliability. The first product in the SanDisk Express line is the SanDisk ExpressCard, a flash memory card designed for a new generation of professional camcorders that record to ExpressCards rather than magnetic tape, hard discs or optical discs. The SanDisk ExpressCard memory card for professional camcorders is expected to be available in November, in 8 gigabyte (GB) and 16 gigabyte capacities.

Sony Europe’s Recording Media & Energy (RME) division announced the launch of its Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG product line-up earlier this year and started the first shipments at the beginning of August . The “Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG” is an extended format of the “Sony Memory Stick PRO” format, offering high performances to meet the stringent demands of end users using digital entertainment equipments.

SanDisk announced that it is shipping the SanDisk 8GB Memory Stick Micro (M2) flash memory cards to phone manufacturers and mobile network operators (MNOs) for testing and evaluation purposes. Primarily used in Sony Ericsson mobile phones, the 8GB SanDisk M2 cards are ideal for the growing number of consumers who make their mobile Phone - with its built-in music player, digital camera and video player/recorder - the centerpiece of their digital lifestyle. At 8GB, SanDisk offers the largest capacity M2 card in the world. The new SanDisk M2 8GB card will allow consumers to listen to more than 2,000 digital songs, or store more than 5,000 high-resolution pictures, or up to 5 hours of high-quality MPEG 4 videos.

SanDisk introduced a new capacity in its high-performance SanDisk Ultra II line: a 4GB SDHC Plus card. The SanDisk Ultra II SDHC Plus 4GB card offers fast read and write speeds of 10 megabytes per second (10MB/sec), reducing the waiting time between camera shots and the download time when transferring photos and video to a computer. “With video recording becoming a standard feature on digital still cameras, memory cards need more capacity and speed to capture not only high-quality photos, but also video” said Susan Park, senior product marketing manager for SanDisk Ultra II cards. The 4GB SanDisk Ultra II SDHC Plus card has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price in the United States of $79.99.

SanDisk launched the SanDisk Multi Card ExpressCard Adapter, offering fast transfer speeds from memory cards to notebook computers without the need to carry cables or external card readers. The new SanDisk adapter fits into the ExpressCard slot now found in most new notebook computers, and accepts six card formats: SD, SDHC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo and Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo. Many competing ExpressCard adapters only accept the full size Memory Stick format, running counter to the swing in market momentum toward the smaller Duo form factor. The SanDisk Multi Card ExpressCard Adapter is expected to available in North America and Europe in September.

SanDisk Corporation announced an 8 gigabyte (GB) model of its popular Cruzer Micro USB flash drive, double the largest capacity previously available in the Cruzer Micro line. Only two inches long, a half-inch thick and weighing less than half an ounce, the 8GB Cruzer Micro nonetheless can hold a massive personal library - 1,600 ultra-high-resolution digital pictures, 2,000 digital songs or five hours of high-quality home video. Cruzer Micro 8GB is expected to be available worldwide in mid-September with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price in the United States of $129.99. Cruzer Micro also continues to be available in four smaller capacities.

SanDisk introduced a new capacity in its high-performance Memory Stick PRO Duo series; an 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo card. The SanDisk Memory Stick PRO Duo 8GB flash card offers fast read and write speeds of 10 megabytes per second (10MB/sec), reducing the waiting time between camera shots and the download time when transferring photos and video to a computer. “With video recording becoming a standard feature on digital still cameras, memory cards need more capacity and speed to capture not only high-quality photos, but also video” said Susan Park, senior product marketing manager for SanDisk Ultra II cards. The new SanDisk 8GB SanDisk Ultra II Memory Stick PRO Duo card has a U.S. MSRP of $159.99.