Samsung Electronics has successfully developed MMC Micro (Multimedia Micro), a new generation of flash memory card that is only one-third the size of existing cards in the market. Measuring 12 x 14 x 1.1 millimeters, the MMC Micro is a much smaller version of RS (Reduced Size) MMC cards and standard MMC cards, which are 24 x 32 x 1.4 in size. Coupled with its capabilities to incorporate up to five NAND flash memory chips, the MMC Micro is aimed at facilitating the on-going trend in mobile device industries to reduce sizes.

 

The MMC Micro operates on 1.8 and 3.3 volts of power. The dual voltage system will enable consumer electronics makers to adopt the chip in high power-consuming devices from mobile phones to PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) and DSCs (Digital Still Camera).

 

Compared with its predecessors, the MMC Micro features faster transmission rates -- it can read data at 10 megabytes per second and write data to the card at seven megabytes per second. The memory card also has higher stability, enabling users to write and erase data on the card 100,000 times without losing information.

 

Samsung Electronics said it had developed models of 32-, 64-, and 128-megabytes and commercial production is tentatively scheduled for early 2005. Models of larger capacity, 256- and 512-megabytes, are also slated for launch sometime next year.

 

Samples of the MMC Micro have been shipped to partnering handset makers, including Samsung's own mobile phone division. However, the division has not decided whether to adopt the ultra small card.