Chaz,
Re: Sandisk "form factor" - smart cards
<< The major reason I see the Sandisk "form factor" as a likely winner in wireless removable storage (and possibly functions for communication with banks, etc.) is the same that I see for "smart cards". Actually, as I have discussed with Eric L on his smart card thread, I am still trying to learn what role smart cards can play and how extensive their function. >>
I never mentioned this to you, but maybe I should point out how the smart card thread came into being.
Back in December of 1998 an SI poster called "Ausdauer" (recognize that name? <g>) picked up on a post about smart cards I had made somewhere and asked me either by PM or on thread (recall is fuzzy) if flash was being used in smart cards.
I responded to him that flash was in fact just starting to be used in smart cards instead of EEPROM, particularly for prototyping applications, that Gemplus had recently delivered the first implementation (in limited quantity using Motorola silicon) and that there were pros and cons to using it. BTW: ATMEL (who bought Motorola's smart card semiconductor division) employs flash and it is being used for Microsoft's "Windows for Smart Card" development platform.
I did a search for the "smart cards" subject on SI. There was none. I started the thread. Ausdauer was the first poster.
... that was the genesis of the smart card thread.
<< The smart card is the sine qua non for wireless handhelds in the future - when 3rd gen is in full swing. Then the question is will there also be a slot and a role for Sandisk's "removable storage" - i.e. two slots or one - or two widgets using the same slot for different purposes? >>
Remember that 55% or so of the handsets in the world already ship with a "smart card" (SIM card). This will increase as SIM's (2G) and R-UIMs (3G) get incorporated into CDMA, TDMA, iDEN handsets. All TRUE 3G handsets will have an R-UIM. I say TRUE because CDMA 1xMC phase 0 (MSM5000 chipset) just is a quasi implementation of 3G, IMO, even if it is an IMT-2000 approved standard. To heck with spectrum, 1xMC phase 0 does not do 384 Kbps in a mobile environment, that's Revision A and the MSM5000 chipset that is over a year away.
I personally don't see the existing slot (reader) in a handset being being dimensioned for anything other than the 2 existing "form factor"s specified by ETSI (and ISO for the larger) or the new proposed dimension (haven't seen specs) being considered for an even smaller form factor (Dick Tracy stuff).
The primary usage in a handset, IMO, for a second slot will be to accept a standard credit card sized (ISO 7810/ISO7816) private label smart card.
Could there be an alternative 2nd slot for "removable storage"? Yes.
Could that slot for "removable storage" be other than SIM/R-UIM form factor? Yes.
Could there be a 3rd slot for "removable storage". Yes. We are starting to push the envelope though. Displays are getting larger. More "ports" considered.
Could flash continue to become more prevalent in smart card form factor. Yes.
Could the Sandisk "removable storage" for handsets follow smart card form factor? Yes. Likely one or more of the standardized types. Advantage over SONY if they do and SONY don't.
Regards,
- Eric - |
