MicroSD

File:MicroSD vs SD.jpg

A microSD card (right) next to its SD adapter (left)

Dissected 64 MB microSD Card, showing cross section through memory chips and printed circuit board

microSD is a format for removable flash memory cards. It is derived from SanDisk TransFlash and is used mainly in mobile telephones, but also in handheld GPS devices, portable media players, digital audio players, video game consoles and expandable USB flash memory drives.

It is currently (2008) the smallest memory card available commercially. At 15 mm × 11 mm × 0.7 mm (about the size of a fingernail), it is about a quarter the size of an SD card. There are adapters which allow a microSD card to be used in devices intended for SD, miniSD, or MemoryStick Duo cards. However, they are not universally compatible.

TransFlash and microSD cards are the same (each can be used in devices made for the other), except that microSD adds support for SDIO mode, enabling non-memory cards like Bluetooth, GPS, and Near Field Communication devices.

As of March 2008, microSD cards are available in capacities from 64 MB to 8 GB. The 16 GB version is being developed by SanDisk, expected to be ready in late 2008. Cards 4 GB and larger are only available in the newer SDHC format.

On January 7, 2008, during CES, SanDisk announced an as yet unpriced 12 GB (104 GB/cm³) microSDHC card.[1]

A 512 MB Kingston microSD card next to a Patriot SD adapter (left) and miniSD adapter (middle).

Manufacturer support

The microSD format is supported mainly by mobile phone manufacturers, among which Motorola was the first to adopt. Garmin makes GPS receivers with maps on microSD cards.

Devices

• Archos: 605 WiFi (4 GB flash version), 405
• Alcatel: OT-E801, OT-C717 Black Soft Touch
• BenQ-Siemens: EF61, E71, EF81, EL71, S82, SFG75, S88, CL71
• BlackBerry: Pearl (8100, 8120, 8130), Curve (8300, 8310, 8320, 8330), 8800, 8820, 8830 (World Edition)
• E-TEN: glofiish X500, glofiish X500+, glofiish M700, glofiish X800
• FIC: Neo 1973T
• Garmin hand-held GPS: Edge 605, 705, eTrex Vista Cx/HCx, Legend Cx/HCx, Venture Cx/HCx, GPSMAP 60Cx, 60Csx, 76Cx, 76Csx, StreetPilot i2, i3, etc.
• High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC): HTC Artemis, HTC Atlas, HTC Breeze/HTC MTeoR, HTC Cavalier, HTC Elf/HTC Ted Baker Needle/HTC Touch, HTC Elfin/HTC Touch, HTC Erato, HTC Excalibur, HTC Herald, HTC Hermes/HTC TyTN, HTC Iris, HTC Kaiser/HTC TyTN II, HTC Libra, HTC Love, HTC Monet, HTC Touch Neon/HTC Touch Dual US, HTC Nike/HTC Touch Dual, HTC Omni, HTC Pharos, HTC Polaris/HTC Touch Cruise/HTC Touch Find, HTC Raphael/HTC Touch Pro, HTC Startrek, HTC Titan, HTC Touch/HTC Vogue, HTC Vox, HTC Wings
• i-mate: Smartflip, JasJam
• JVC: GZ-HD5, GZ-HD6
• Kyocera: KX55XO, Slider Sonic, Slider Remix
• LG Electronics: enV2(VX9100), Viewty KU990, Voyager(VX10000), VX8700, LG UX260, LGCU515, LG Shine, LG Dare, Rumor by LG, LG Scoop (AX260)
• Motorola: V360, E398, V635, V710, A780, E815, A840, E770, E815, E895, C975, V975, C980, V980, A1000, A1200, M1000,Maxx Ve E1000, V1000, ROKR, V1050, V1150, SLVR L7, Motorola L7e, E1060, E1120, RAZR (V3i, V3m, V3r, V3t, V3x, V3xx, V6), i870, i880, i876, i876w, i885, i580, A1200, KRZR (K1, K1m, K3), Z3, Z6, Z8, L7, Moto Q9h, Q9c
• NEC: N908
• Nintendo DS storage devices (e.g. M3 Simply)
• Nokia: 3109c, 3110c, 3250, 3500c, 5200 (up to 2 GB), 5300, 5310 (up to 8 GB), 5500, 5610, 5700, 6085, 6086, 6110 Navigator, 6120/6121 Classic, 6125, 6131/6126/6133, 6151, 6233, 6234, 6265i, 6267 6275i, 6300 (up to 2 GB), 6301, 6500 Slide, 6288, 6555, 7373, 7390, E50, E51, E61i, E65, E71, E90, N73, N75, N76, N78, N81, N82, N95, N96
• O2: O2 Ice, O2 Cocoon, Xda Orbit, Xda Orbit 2, Xda Exec, Xda Mini S, Xda Trion, Xda Stellar
• Orange: Berlin
• Palm: Centro, Treo 800w
• Patriot: PC133
• Pantech: Duo
• Pioneer: AVIC-S1 Mobile Navigation System
• Sagem: My V-76, My X 6-2, My501C, My401C, My411X, My511x
• Samsung: Samsung M800 (Instinct), SGH-A737, SGH-D600, SGH-Z370, Samsung SCH-U620, Samsung SGH E740
• SanDisk Sansa: e200 series, c200 series, Express, Fuze, View
• Sanyo: SCP-8400, SCP-8500 (Katana DLX)
• Sharp: 770SH
• Song: Song DIC 338/A138
• Sony Ericsson: K850, s500i (M2/microSD combo slot), XPERIA X1
• T-Mobile: Dash (Smartphone), WIng (pocket pc), Sidekick 3, Sidekick LX
• Vodafone: Vodafone 1210, Vodafone 720, Vodafone 716, Vodafone 715, Vodafone 810, Vodafone 527

Navman GPS devices use microSD cards to store extra maps.

Most devices which support SD/miniSD can support microSD cards using an appropriate adapter (often sold with a microSD card), but support is not universal. SanDisk publishes a list of mobile phones with memory card support [2] (in PDF format). This gives the type of the memory card slot and lists the support for still-image cameras, video capture and music.

SanDisk's e200 series MP3 players support microSD card expansion, allowing additional storage of up to 2 GB. [3]

RCA Pearl MP3 players (TH1100, TH1101 and TH1102) support the use of MicroSD cards for additional storage. [4]

See also

• Comparison of memory cards
• MiniSD Card
• SD Card

References

• http://usa.apacer.com/us/products/microSD_Card.htm

External links

• SanDisk microSD and microSDHC Product Page
• Apacer microSD Product Page
• SimpleTech microSD Product Page
• Kingmax Digital microSD Product Page
• SD Card Association
• PhysOrg article about SanDisk's 512 MB microSD card release
• microSD pictures and descriptions
• Kingston microSD Product Page
• Everything you need to now about Micro SD