microSD is a small, removable flash memory card format originally based on SanDisk's TransFlash card format. It is primarily used in mobile phones, but because of its size and increasing capacity it is also being used in handheld GPS devices, portable audio players, flashcards for Nintendo DS, and expandable USB flash memory drives.
At 15 mm × 11 mm × 0.7 mm—about the size of a fingernail—it is currently the smallest memory card format commercially available. It is about one quarter of the size of a standard SD card but can be inserted into an adapter which allows the card to be used in devices with an SD card slot.
TransFlash and microSD cards are essentially the same, and each can be used in devices made for the other type. There is one exception, which is that unlike TransFlash, microSD devices have the capability to support NFC (Near Field Communication). [1]
As of January 2007, microSD cards are available in capacities from 64 MB through 2 GB but KingMax and SanDisk have announced 4GB cards (34 GB/cm3).
History
The microSD format was originally created by SanDisk. It was originally called T-Flash, and then TransFlash, before being rechristened microSD when adopted by the SD Card Association (SDA). Other flash card formats approved by the SDA include miniSD and SD.
The SDA announced the microSD format at CTIA Wireless 2005 on March 14, 2005, and approval of the final microSD specification was announced on July 13, 2005. At launch, the microSD format was available in capacities of 32, 64, and 128 MB. SanDisk introduced a 2 GB microSD card in July of 2006, initially priced at US$99.
Manufacturer support
The format is currently supported primarily by mobile phone manufacturers, of which Motorola was the first adopter. Garmin produces a line of GPS receivers that ships with microSD cards for map storage.
Devices
- BenQ-Siemens: EF61, E71, EF81, EL71, S82, SFG75, S88, CL71
- E-TEN: glofiish X500
- Garmin hand-held GPS: eTrex Vista Cx, Legend Cx, Venture Cx, GPSMap 60cx, 60csx, 76cx, Map76csx, StreetPilot i2, Street Pilot i3, etc.
- HTC: Hermes (TyTN). Also badged as: O2 XDA trion, T-Mobile MDA Vario II, Vodafone 1605 VPA Compact III, Orange SPV M3100, Dopod CHT 9000, Dopod 838 Pro, hTc Z, Qtek 9600, i-mate JasJam, Cingular 8525, Swissom XPA v1605, SoftBank X01HT, UTStarcom 6800. Monet. Also badged as: Virgin Lobster 700TV
- HTC: HTC P3300, also known as: O2 XDA Orbit, T-Mobile MDA Compact III
- HTC: HTC StrTrk and its sister models Cingular 3100 and Cingular 3125
- HTC: HTC MTeoR
- i-mate: Smartflip, JasJam
- Kyocera: KX55XO, Slider Sonic, Slider Remix
- LG Electronics: U8360, U8380, U880, VX-8300,VX-8500(Chocolate), VX-8600, VX-9900(enV), LX550(Fusic), CE500, CU320, CU500, L600v
- Motorola: V360, E398, V635, V710, A780, E815, A840, E770, E815, E895, C975, V975, C980, V980, A1000, A1200, M1000, E1000, V1000, ROKR, V1050, V1150, SLVR L7, Motorola L7e, E1060, E1120, RAZR (V3i, V3m, V3r, V3t, V3x, V3xx, V6), i870, i880, i885, i580, A1200, KRZR (K1, K1m), RIZR Z3 Z8, L7
- NEC: N908
- Nokia: 3250, 6233, 6234, 5200, 5300, 5500, 6125, 6131/6126/6133, 6151, 6275i, 6300, E50, E61i, E65, E90, N95 (2007), N800
- Sagem: My V-76 and My X 6-2
- Samsung: SGH-D600, SGH-D807, SGH-D820, SGH-D900,SGH-E900, SGH-Z400, SGH-Z500, SGH-Z700, SGH-ZM60, SGH-i300, SGH-i607, SGH-P850, SGH-D510, SGH-X700, SGH-E870, SGH-E770, SGH-E900, SGH-X800, SGH-zx10, SPH-A920/MM-A920, SPH-A940, SPH-M610, SCH-A950, SCH-A930, SCH-A990, SCH-U740, SGH-T809, SGH-T609, SGH-T519, SGH-T629, a9, SGH-A707(SYNC)
- Sandisk: Sansa e200 series, SanDisk Sansa c200 series, Sansa e250
- Sanyo: SCP-8400
- Sony Ericsson: W880i
- SuperCard Lite
- RIM (Research In Motion): BlackBerry series
- T-Mobile: Dash (Smartphone)
Furthermore Navman GPS devices also use microSD cards for extra map storage of different countries.
All devices which support SD cards can support microSD cards using an SD card adapter (often included in the package of a microSD card), increasing the full compatibility list. SanDisk has a list of mobile phones with memory card support [2] (in PDF format) which gives the type of the memory card slot, and also lists the still-image camera support, video capture support and music support.
SanDisk's E200 series MP3 players also support microSD card expansion, allowing additional capacity of up to 2GB presently. It is not known if larger capacities are supported.