SanDisk to sell new 16 GB phone memory card through Croma, Hot Spot Retail, Vijay Sales in India

S&P 500 flash memory products maker for mobile devices SanDisk Corporation today announced that it is bringing to market its 16GB microSDHC and Memory Stick Micro (M2) mobile memory cards, the world's largest storage capacity for mobile phones. Hot Spot Retail chain, Vijay Sales and Croma Stores will the first retail outlets in India to carry the 16GB capacity cards.

The fingernail-sized 16GB memory cards allow consumers to ''wake up'' the many storage-intensive features offered by today's portable handsets such as music and video playback, high-definition digital camera functions, gaming and GPS applications.

In addition to the mobile phone, consumers can use the 16GB microSDHC card in a multitude of other devices, including a video camera, GPS receiver or a MP3 player with a microSD slot such as SanDisk's Sansa players.

"Handsets have become far more than just phones - they've become mobile jukeboxes, mobile offices, even mobile movie theaters," said Avi Greengart, research director for mobile devices at Current Analysis.

"Flash memory cards have increased in storage capacity, but even an 8GB card may be too small for anyone with GPS map data, a few movies, a game or two, a presentation file and other applications. There is an acute need for more mobile storage capacity. 16GB gives consumers the ability to carry their digital content with them and still have room to do more with their mobile phones."

SanDisk's 16GB micro SDHC card has a minimum retail sales price of Rs4,499 and the 16GB M2 card priced at Rs4,999. SanDisk's 16GB mobile memory cards will be available at Hot Spot Retail chain, Vijay sales & Croma in October.

MicroSD cards are designed for slot-equipped legacy mobile phones and can hold a maximum capacity of 2GB. Today's microSDHC cards are available in 4GB, 8GB and now 16GB, are ideal for newer mobile phone models, most of which are compatible with these higher capacity cards.

The Memory Stick Micro (M2) cards are designed for Sony Ericsson's new generation of mobile phones, all of which are compatible with the 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacity levels. SanDisk's 16GB mobile memory cards come with a five-year limited warranty.