Industry Backs JEDEC Flash Memory Standard

Several electronics companies have united in support of a standard for removable memory cards and embedded memory solutions being hammered out by the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association (JEDEC). Micron Technology, Nokia, Samsung Electronics, Sony Ericsson, Spansion Inc., STMicroelectronics, and Texas Instruments said they will support the new specification, dubbed Universal Flash Storage (UFS). The standard reflects the industry's need for a universal memory solution that eliminates the need for adaptors to accommodate different removable memory card sizes, according to a Nokia release. The standard will also support low access times required for memories. Today, users encounter a three-minute access time for a 90-minute (4 Gigabyte) high-definition movie, but the new standard would reduce that time to a few seconds, according to the release. Removable memory cards under the UFS standard — expected to be finalized in 2009 — will be able to be shared among mobile, portable and other consumer electronics devices without adaptors.