Socket Develops Plug-in I/O Card with On-board Support for SanDisk's Removable MultiMediaCard Memory

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Nov 22, 1999

Socket Communications Inc., the leading supplier of CompactFlash CF I/O cards, and SanDisk Corporation, the world's largest supplier of flash data storage products, Monday announced a cooperative arrangement to bring to market Socket's patent-pending technology for combining I/O connectivity plus removable memory onto plug-in cards designed to fit in the expansion slots of Windows CE operating system-based PC Companions as well as other mobile computers and intelligent appliances.

Socket's memory-plus-I/O technology could save PDA users from having to choose between using an expansion slot to add memory or to attach an I/O device.

At the Comdex trade show Monday, Socket demonstrated their new technology to select partners by adding a SanDisk MultiMediaCard memory module to a CompactFlash CF I/O card and using the dual-function device in the industry-standard CompactFlash expansion slot of a PDA powered by the Microsoft Windows CE operating system. The I/O port on the prototype card was then connected to an external bar code scanner and at the same time the PDA played music stored on the SanDisk MultiMediaCard card.

Cards incorporating Socket's technology could be used for a variety of applications that combine memory storage and I/O connectivity. For example, a dual-function LAN card could allow a user to load a music library onto the MultiMediaCard via an on-board Ethernet connection and then listen to the music while traveling. A dual-function serial communications card could allow a user to read a detailed street map stored on the MultiMediaCard while receiving location data from an externally connected GPS receiver. The same card could be used to attach a bar code scanner to a Palm-size PC and store the scanned data on the removable, non-volatile MultimediaCard. Because Socket's memory-plus-I/O technology can be implemented on a standard-size plug-in card, products that use the technology will work with existing mobile computing platforms ranging from PDAs to notebooks and will require no physical modifications to be made to the host computer. Socket expects commercial availability of products based on the proven technology to be released in the second half of 2000.

The fully-functional plug-in card that Socket demonstrated at Comdex has three operating modes. It can be used to attach an external peripheral to a Windows CE-based computer, to add SanDisk MultiMediaCard memory, or to do both simultaneously. SanDisk recently announced that the top capacity of SanDisk's MultiMediaCard has been increased to 64 MB.

"Microsoft chose industry standards like CompactFlash in Windows CE to create a platform for innovation for developers that ultimately benefits users of all platforms, including PCs," said Rogers Weed, director of marketing for the Productivity Appliances Division at Microsoft Corp. "By building on the strength of two industry-standard technologies -- CompactFlash CF I/O card with a MultiMediaCard memory -- Socket has created a breakthrough solution that promises to benefit a broad range of mobile users."

"Socket has come up with an innovative way to eliminate the slot contention between memory and I/O cards," said Leon Malmed, senior vice president for marketing and sales at SanDisk. "Socket's new technology will accelerate the adoption of the CompactFlash CF standard on a var portable computers, creates a tremendous opportunity for its customers to deploy Windows 2000 and dramatically improve their computing experience."

Improving Mobility and Increasing Reliability Windows 2000 Professional includes powerful new features, such as improved power management and plug-and-play functions that will enhance usability for its mobile computing customers. In addition, Windows 2000 will give users increased peace of mind with the highest level of security, reliability and performance of any Windows operating system to date.

The operating system's robust management capabilities are an important complement to Toshiba's Tecra 8000 and Portege 7020 notebooks and its Equium 7100 desktops, whose designs are based on helping customers reduce their total cost of ownership (TCO).

As a part of its proactive support program for Windows 2000, Toshiba is providing around-the-clock telephone support, a host of Web services and technical information to help its business customers evaluate and deploy Windows 2000-based solutions. The Web site, located at www.toshibapc.com/win2000, features Toshiba's innovative Ask Iris support system, BIOS, drivers, links, utilities and a host of technical information.

In addition, Toshiba is offering customers of Windows NT 4.0 Workstation a free license upgrade on selected desktops and notebooks. Customers will receive coupons for these upgrades from Toshiba on Equium 7100, 3200 and V3100 desktops, as well as Tecra 8000, Portege 7020CT and 3110CT notebooks factory-installed with Windows NT 4.0 and purchased in the United States between Sept. 1, 1999, and March 31, 2000.