Panasonic said it is developing a 4 GB SDHC (SD High-Capacity) Memory Card based on the new SD Specifications Version 2.00. The new specifications were established to meet the growing demand for HD (High Definition) video and high-resolution image recording used in many SD enabled devices. The 4 GB SDHC Memory Card is scheduled for global release in the summer of 2006. Since its introduction in the year 2000, the SD Memory Card has been accepted by a wide range of digital devices, backed by its four main advantages - compact size, high data storage capacity, fast data transfer speed and advanced copyright protection features. The demand for higher-capacity SD Memory Cards still continues to grow due to the widespread use of high-resolution digital cameras and semiconductor audio and video players. Reacting to the growth in the market for such devices, the SD Card Association released SD Specifications Version 2.00 for the capacity beyond 2 GB.

With the new specifications, it became possible to develop SDHC Memory Card with capacities up to 32 GB. In addition, the new Specifications Version 2.00 specified to guarantee the minimum sustained data transfer speeds by establishing card performance classes (Class 2: 2 MB/s; Class 4: 4 MB/s; Class 6: 6 MB/s) for recording the streaming MPEG data. The previous versions of the specification did not provide such common standards for sustained data transfer speeds to be shared by all manufacturers. The new approach allows users to select card performance based on the needs of particular applications such as HD video and other MPEG applications with high data storage capacities.

Panasonic SD Memory Cards

Since introducing the industry's first SD Memory Card in year 2000 (with Physical Layer Specification Ver. 1.00), Panasonic has driven growth in the industry by continuously expanding the SD Memory Card product lineup. The lineup includes the industry's first 256 MB and 512 MB SD Memory Cards in 2002, and the PRO HIGH SPEED series of SD Memory Cards with a maximum data transfer speed of up to 20 MB/s in 2004 (based on Physical Layer Specification Ver. 1.10).

In addition to the PRO HIGH SPEED series (512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB), the SUPER HIGH SPEED series SD Memory Card (256 MB) delivers a maximum data transfer speed of up to 10 MB/s. The HIGH SPEED series of SD Memory Cards delivers a maximum data transfer speed of up to 2 MB/s (128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB) and of up to 5 MB/s (1 GB, 2 GB). Also the miniSD cards range from 128 MB to 1 GB.

SD Specifications Ver. 2.00

Size (W ? L ? T mm): 24 ? 32 ? 2.1mm (Same as the current SD Memory Card)
Number of pins: 9 pins (Same as the current SD Memory Card)
Physical Specification: Version 2.00 (Current SD Memory Card complies with Version 1.01 and Version 1.10)
File System: Version 2.00 (FAT32) (Current SD Memory Card complies with FAT16 or FAT12)

SDHC Memory Cards using a new file system cannot be used with SD host devices that do not comply with SD Specifications Version 2.00. (Host devices complying with SD Specifications Version 2.00 can use both the conventional SD Memory Card and SDHC Memory Card.)

Panasonic SD Memory Card and miniSD Card Lineup

HIGH SPEED Series: Up to 2 MB/s / 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, Up to 5 MB/s / 1 GB, 2 GB
SUPER HIGH SPEED Series: Up to 10 MB/s / 256 MB
PRO HIGH SPEED Series: Up to 20 MB/s / 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB
miniSD Card: Up to 2 MB/s / 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, Up to 5 MB/s / 1 GB