Sony announced yesterday at CeBIT that Memory Stick format will be supported by nineteen new companies. These companies will now work with Sony to finalize definitive agreements to license the Memory Stick hardware/device specifications.
Memory Stick is a compact-sized IC recording media incorporating rewritable flash memory technology. It is currently available in storage capacities of 4MB, 8MB, 16MB, 32MB and 64MB, with 256MB slated for introduction within the year 2001.
With the announcement, the total number of companies to license the Memory Stick specifications reached forty-six (forty-four for the hardware/device license, and two for the media license). These companies will be able to manufacture and commercialize a wide variety of compliant products.
“Compaq is excited to work with Sony and looks forward to deliver creative solutions for our customers utilizing the ‘Memory Stick’ technology for our future products,” said Ted Clark, VP iAppliances Division, Compaq Computer Corp.
“Sony has already introduced a number of Memory Stick products such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras, and Walkman portable audio players,” said Yoshihide Nakamura, corporate senior VP, Sony Corp. “Now is the right moment to enhance the Memory Stick world, especially in new fields such as computers and automotive industries. We believe Memory Stick has great potential to create a new way to enjoy digital contents that are easily shared among various digital networked devices.”
Companies to License Memory Stick (* indicates new companies): AIWA, Acer, Adobe*, Alpine Electronics, Alps Electric Co., Casio Computer Co., Clarion, Compaq, DataFab Systems*, Fujitsu Ten Ltd., Hitachi (Semiconductor Division)*, I-O Data Device*, Kenwood, Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., LG Electronics, Marantz Japan, Mitsubishi Electric Corp.*, Mitsumi Electric*, Oki Electric, Olympus Optical Co., Onkyo, Palm Computing*, Pioneer, Ricoh, Samsung Electronics, Sanyo Electric*, SCM Microsystems, Seiko Epson Corp.*, Sharp, SIS (Silicon Integrated Systems Corp.), Teac Co.*, Texas Instruments, Total Technology Company*, Western Digital Corp.*, Xanavi Informatics*, YE Data*, France Telecom, Audi AG, General Motors, Holden*, Opel*, Saab*, Vauxhall* and Volkswagen AG*. Companies with the media license: Fujitsu, Lexar Media,
