With all the concerns over the IPO and the results of the court ruling has anyone thought about what the MOU with Sony means?? Any comments would be greatly appreciated!!!! The following is from Lexar site. Check out the Q & A
I find it hard to believe that Sony would enter into an agreement like this unless it was going to gain something. A faster write/rewrite would make the competition between SanDisk and Sony the "talk of the Town". What a great way to bring about the technology to the attention of the general population. ________________________________________________________
LEXAR MEDIA ANNOUNCES LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH SONY CORPORATION
Lexar's High-Speed Flash Memory Controller To Enhance Sony's "Memory StickTM" Performance
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2000 -Lexar Media today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sony Corporation (NYSE: SNE) to commence the development of a high-speed Memory Stick. Under the terms of the agreement, Lexar Media will license its high-speed flash memory controller technology to Sony in order for Sony to substantially improve the read/write speed of the Memory Stick to download 64 megabytes of music (approximately 80 minutes of compressed music) in less than ten seconds. In addition, the agreement allows Lexar to license Memory Stick media specifications from Sony and thereby manufacture and market Memory Stick media.
Sony's Memory Stick is a digital storage transfer media that works in a wide variety of applications including digital cameras, audio/video product applications, and serves as an interface in a variety of computer/IT products. The new high-speed Memory Stick will be backward compatible with current Memory Stick products and is slated for introduction in 2001.
"Sony offers a number of Memory Stick compliant products such as Cyber-shot digital cameras, a Memory Stick Walkman portable stereo,VAIO personal computers and other devices for which the speed of the storage media is critical," said Yoshihide Nakamura, Senior Vice President, Sony Corporation. "We studied a number of options to enhance the Memory Stick. Lexar Media's high-speed controller technology can increase the read/write speed of the Memory Stick to make it the best suited media in the digital network era."
"Lexar's goal has always been to offer the fastest, largest capacity flash memory-based digital film cards in the industry, and we believe that Sony's decision to work with Lexar clearly validates our technology and leadership position," said John Reimer, President and CEO, Lexar Media. "Sony selected Lexar after carefully reviewing our technology and intellectual property portfolio. With Memory Stick added to our product lineup of USB-enabled CompactFlash, PC Cards and SmartMedia, Lexar is now well-positioned as a complete provider of digital film products."
"While CompactFlash and SmartMedia currently dominate the flash memory market among digital cameras, our user research shows that Sony is the most recognized name among those vendors providing memory for digital cameras," said Kevin Kane, Analyst, International Data Corporation. "This rapidly expanding market offers an opportunity for a variety of removable storage options. The agreement with Sony allows Lexar Media to offer the most widely used removable storage products to an even broader audience which includes customers for the existing Memory Stick product line."
Lexar's expertise in high-performance digital film products stems from its experience in supplying flash memory controllers to CompactFlash card manufacturers and marketing its own line of high-performance digital film. The Company has a rich portfolio of intellectual property that includes 15 U.S. granted patents, 15 U.S. patent applications and many foreign patent applications, and holds key patents on designs, processes and techniques that chip designers may need in order to build low-cost, high-speed flash storage products.
About Lexar Media
Lexar Media, the technology leader in High Performance Digital Film, designs, develops, and markets a complete line of removable digital film in the three most popular industry formats: CompactFlash, SmartMedia and PC Cards. The Company also offers easy-to-use connectivity products to transfer photographic images to the computer. Lexar Media is headquartered in Fremont, California and has a sales office in Tokyo. Information on Lexar can be obtained through its toll-free number 1-800-789-9418 or by accessing www.digitalfilm.com.
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Questions & Answers
Lexar Press Conference
January 6, 2000
Q: Specifically, what does the joint agreement involve?
A: The agreement involves three areas:
Lexar Media will license the intellectual property right for the high-speed flash memory controller technology to Sony
Sony will license the specification for "Memory Stick" media to Lexar Media
Sony and Lexar Media to develop high-speed "Memory Stick" by applying Lexar Media's high-speed flash memory controller technology
Q: How will the "improved" Memory Stick differ from the current Memory Stick?
A: The new Memory Stick will include Lexar's high-performance controller technology that will significantly improve write speed so that images or data are stored faster. Lexar has proven expertise in optimizing controllers for CompactFlash cards and will use similar techniques to improve the controller in the Memory Stick.
Q: What kind of speed improvements can consumers expect to see?
A: Lexar Media will license its high-speed flash memory controller technology to Sony in order for Sony to substantially improve the read/write speed of the Memory Stick to download 64 megabytes of music (approximately 80 minutes of compressed music) in less than ten seconds.
Q: Which devices will benefit the most from this high-speed Memory Stick?
A: Typically, digital cameras and Internet music players see the biggest gains. Fast write speeds let users take more high-resolution pictures or download MP3 files faster. However, other devices may also see performance gains.
Q: Why did Sony choose Lexar Media to improve the Memory Stick?
A: After extensive research into Lexarûs business and technology, Sony concluded that our intellectual property would be required to realize the maximum write speed potential of the Memory Stick.
Q: Will the improved Memory Stick be sold under the Lexar brand?
A: Yes. Lexar is licensed to sell the new Memory Stick.
Q: When will the new Memory Stick products be available?
A: The new high-speed Memory Stick media is slated for introduction in 2001. Lexar will announce plans to offer the current Memory Stick in February 2000, at the PMA show in Las Vegas.
Q: What channels will the products be sold through?
A: It will most likely be through the same channels that Lexar digital film products are currently sold: retailers, camera dealers and directly from Lexar.
Q: Will Lexar continue to sell CompactFlash, SmartMedia and PC Cards?
A: Yes. The new Memory Stick is an addition to Lexar's product line of digital film, which currently includes all the industry-standard form factors and a variety of reader devices as well. |
