Lexar Partners With Eye Fi

By Greg Scoblete -- TWICE, 1/21/2008

LAS VEGAS — Flash-memory maker Lexar Media unveiled at International CES a partnership with Eye Fi to introduce wireless flash-memory cards for digital cameras.

The partnership with Eye Fi will allow Lexar to market a wireless SD card capable of automatically uploading photos from a digital camera to PCs/Macs and to an online photo Web site simultaneously. The cards will be sold under both the Lexar and the Kodak brand, which Lexar licenses, said Lexar president Mark Adams.

Like the existing Eye Fi card, Lexar's version will be a 2GB SD card expected to retail for $99 when it ships in late February. That price is still under review, Adams added.

The Kodak-branded and Lexar-branded cards will carry the same retail price but be distributed in different channels, Adams said.

According to Adams, Lexar is looking at launching the wireless flash technology in other form factors with differing capacities in the future, possibly 2009.

In related news, Eye Fi announced that it had added new partners to its upload network. Beginning Jan. 11, Eye Fi owners are now able to add Microsoft Windows Live, Windows Live Photo Gallery and Costco Photo Center as online destinations for their images. The new partners bring to 20 the number of Web sites the wireless-enabled SD card can upload to directly, without a PC.

In addition to its wireless card, Lexar announced several new Kodak-branded products, including a 1GB and 2GB microSD, a 4GB microSDHC card, an 8GB SDHC card and a USB flash drives in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB capacities. Pricing and availability were not announced.

Under the Lexar brand, the firm will ship 8GB SDHC cards in its Professional, Platinum II and standard lines.