IRVINE, Calif. and TOKYO, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., (TAEC)* and its parent, Toshiba Corp. (Toshiba), today announced the global launch of the latest addition to its new series of high-capacity SDHC Memory Cards: the industry's first 8-gigabyte (GB)(1) Class 4 memory card. The new card will be introduced in early January 2007, alongside the 4GB products launched in September, and will give Toshiba a larger commercially available lineup in high performance SD Memory Cards.

The SDHC (SD High Capacity) Memory Card is based on the SD Card Association's SD Specifications Ver2.00, which defines high capacity, high performance enhancements to market-leading SD Memory Cards. The new card meets the Class 4 standard, a speed standard that requires a data write speed of at least 4GB/second(2). Toshiba is first in the industry to announce the launch of Class 4 8GB SDHC memory card.

SDHC Memory Cards are expected to find wide application in digital video and still cameras, and Toshiba is enhancing global distribution of its new cards.

Outline of New SD Memory Card Product Name SD Speed Class Capacity SD-HC008 Class 4 8GB Key Features * 8GB capacity supports capture of video images and high resolution still images. The new card can record a maximum of 3 hours 10 minutes of standard definition video in the MPEG2 format. * Meets Class 4 in the "SD Speed Class", requiring high speed writing of at least 4MB per second, up to 6MB per second. Specifications Maximum Write Speed: 6MB / Second Power Supply Voltage: 2.7 - 3.6V Compatible Standard: SD Memory Card Ver2.00 standard compatible File Format: FAT32(3) Size: 24 x 32 ×2.1mm(4) Weight: Approximately 2g

Note: The SDHC Memory Card cannot be used for devices that do not support SD Memory Card Ver2.00 standard, as the file formats differ.

Availability

The Toshiba 8GB SDHC memory card (SD-HC008) is scheduled for availability in December.

SD Memory Card

The SD memory card was jointly developed in 1999 by Toshiba Corporation, SanDisk Corporation and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (best known for its Panasonic brand name products). SD memory cards have been widely adopted worldwide. Toshiba has shipped more than 200 million memory cards(5) and is currently the world's second largest supplier of NAND Flash memory(6). The addition of the SDHC card to the Toshiba SD Card family addresses the growing demand for high capacity storage.

The Toshiba SD Memory Card family now includes standard SD memory cards, as well as miniSD, microSD and SDHC cards. The entire SD card line features cryptographic security, protection of copyrighted data, high-data transfer rate for fast copy/download and high storage capacity. TAEC currently offers a wide selection of SD Memory Cards with storage capacities of 512MB, 1GB and 2GB in the standard (blue) product family, and a higher performance (white) family of cards in 512MB and 1GB capacities. The Toshiba SD Memory card line-up now includes miniSD in capacities ranging from 512MB to 2GB card, microSD cards in 256MB, 512MB and 1GB capacities, and 4GB and 8GB SDHC cards.

NAND Flash Background

As a recognized pioneer in flash technology, Toshiba was a principal innovator of NAND- and NOR-type Flash technology in the 1980's. Toshiba maintains leadership in Flash technology today, with a complete line of NAND memory in densities from 512 megabit(7) (Mb) to 16Gb (8) to meet various application requirements. NAND Flash has become one of the leading technologies for solid-state storage applications because of its high-speed programming capability, high-speed erasing, and low cost. The sequential nature (serial access) of NAND-based Flash memory provides notable advantages for these block-oriented data storage applications. Toshiba's NAND Flash memory products are optimized for general solid-state storage, image file storage and audio for applications such as solid-state disk drives, digital cameras, audio appliances, set-top boxes and industrial storage.

*About TAEC

Combining quality and flexibility with design engineering expertise, TAEC brings a breadth of advanced, next-generation technologies to its customers. This broad offering includes memory and flash memory-based storage solutions, a broad range of discrete devices, displays, medical tubes, ASICs, custom SOCs, microprocessors, microcontrollers and wireless components for the computing, wireless, networking, automotive and digital consumer markets.

TAEC is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corp. (Toshiba), Japan's largest semiconductor manufacturer and the world's fourth largest semiconductor manufacturer. In more than 130 years of operation, Toshiba has recorded numerous firsts and made many valuable contributions to technology and society. For additional company and product information, please visit TAEC's website at chips.toshiba.com. For technical inquiries, please e-mail Tech.Questions@taec.toshiba.com.

Information in this press release, including product pricing and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice. Technical and application information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable Toshiba product specifications. In developing designs, please ensure that Toshiba products are used within specified operating ranges as set forth in the most recent Toshiba product specifications and the information set forth in Toshiba's "Handling Guide for Semiconductor Devices," or "Toshiba Semiconductor Reliability Handbook." This information is available at http://www.chips.toshiba.com/, or from your TAEC representative.

All trademarks and tradenames held within are the properties of their respective holders.

(1) When used herein in relation to memory density, gigabyte and/or GB means 1,024x1,024x1,024 = 1,073,741,824 bytes. Usable capacity may be less. For details, please refer to specifications. (2) Read and write speed may vary depending on the read and write conditions, such as devices you use and file sizes you read and/or write. (For purposes of measuring write speed in this context, 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes). (3) Standard SD cards utilize FAT16 or FAT12. (4) Same as current SD card. (5) Based on 2004 shipments including OEM shipments. Source: Techno System Research Co, Ltd. (6) Source: Gartner, Inc. September 19, 2005. (7) When used herein in relation to memory density, megabit and/or Mb means 1,024x1,024 = 1,048,576 bits. Usable capacity may be less. For details, please refer to specifications. (8) When used herein in relation to memory density, gigabit and/or Gb means 1,024x1,024x1,024 = 1,073,741,824 bits. Usable capacity may be less. For details, please refer to specifications.

CONTACT: Jan Johnson of MultiPath Communications, +1-714-633-4008,
jan@multipathcom.com, for Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.; or
Rebecca Bueno of Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., +1-949-623-3099,
rebecca.bueno@taec.toshiba.com

Web site: http://www.chips.toshiba.com/