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Microsoft and SanDisk (News - Alert) Corp. have signed an agreement to deliver a next-generation software and hardware solution to place application programs and personal customization on USB flash drives and flash memory cards, expanding on and replacing SanDisk's existing U3 Smart Technology.
Under the agreement, Microsoft (News - Alert) will develop a new software experience and SanDisk will develop new hardware capabilities, including adding TrustedFlash security technology. SanDisk will incorporate the combined software and hardware solution on removable flash memory cards and Cruzer USB flash drives, with products becoming commercially available starting the second half of 2008.
Microsoft is slated to begin lining up third-party hardware vendors interested in licensing the new software offering. It will create a new entity to license compatible hardware designs, TrustedFlash, and other IP from both companies, and who will share in the revenue from the venture.
"SanDisk and U3 forged the category of smart USB devices, elevating simple flash storage to a whole new level of customer benefit," said Will Poole, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Market Expansion Group, in a statement. "We are excited to work with SanDisk on this next-generation experience, which will allow hardware manufacturers to better differentiate their products and provide an even richer software and services experience for customers."
"The U3 platform was established with the vision of giving customers a consistent and portable computing experience. The existing 20,000 U3 software developers that joined us show the potential for smart flash memory devices," said Yoram Cedar, executive vice president of the mobile business unit and corporate engineering at SanDisk, in a statement. "We expect this relationship with Microsoft will raise the overall experience for consumers given Microsoft's unique software expertise, and grow the momentum given the large community of third party companies capable of utilizing Microsoft's technologies."
Both companies stressed that developers will be offered a migration path to modify existing U3 applications to run on the new offering.
No larger than a pack of chewing gum, U3 smart drives let users carry not only files but also popular Windows software applications with their associated preferences and settings. Consumers simply plug a U3 smart drive into any Windows-based computer's USB port to securely access personalized e-mail programs, Web browsers, productivity tools, multimedia applications and more.
The new offering available through the companies will enable users to carry their personal computing environment -- including a customized and familiar user interface, applications and data -- on a flash storage device such as a USB flash drive or flash memory card. This computing environment will be accessible on Windows XP and Windows Vista-based computers with a USB port or flash card reader. Moreover, users will be free to work on public or shared computers free of security or privacy concerns, due to the security provisions enabled by TrustedFlash technology.
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Spencer Chin is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
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