Twice the functions (no wires attached)
Sandisk, a giant in the mini-memory business, has announced its first multi-function storage cards.
The two new cards combine flash memory with 802.11b wireless networking, or Wi-Fi, into a single product. The first is a 128 megabyte CompactFlash card, the second a 256MB Secure Digital (SD) card.
The SanDisk Connect cards can transmit and receive data at speeds up to 11 megabits per second at a range of up to 91 metres.
The most obvious beneficiaries of cards like these will be owners of personal digital assistants. Most Pocket PC devices have just one Compact Flash expansion slot, while most Palm devices use the smaller SD or, in Sony's case, Memory Stick format. With only one slot, the user has to choose from either storage or connectivity.
Storage of up to 256MB means you can go on a business trip with nothing more than a PDA and folding keyboard. Many hotels and coffee shops and most airports and exhibition centres now offer wireless networks, so with a combined card you can easily store all your work, presentations and reference material, but still have access to the Internet or local network.
Sandisk also believes that digital cameras and audio players will in the future be able to access the Internet with the cards, so a photographer could send pictures directly from his shoot to a secure Web-site or e-mail account.
The CompactFlash combo card with 128MB is priced at US$129.95 and is available now, with a free adaptor for laptop PC Card slots. SanDisk plans to add 256MB cards to the CF Connect product line by mid-year. The 256MB Wi-Fi SD cards will cost US$149.95 and are expected to ship in the summer. The company also plans to release Wi-Fi-only cards in March for US$99.95.
