- Connector-free, high-capacity, embedded SSDs enable new
generation of tablets and ultrathin notebooks
- SanDisk® iSSD™ integrated solid state device series
featuring the new SATA µSSD specification is available for sampling
now
FLASH MEMORY SUMMIT, SANTA CLARA,
Calif., August 9, 2011-SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK),
a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced
that it has implemented the new SATA µSSD™ specification into its
SanDisk iSSD
product line of postage stamp-sized embedded SSDs. SATA-IO, an
industry consortium dedicated to sustaining the quality, integrity
and dissemination of serial ATA (SATA™) technology, introduced the
standard today.
The number of media tablets shipped
worldwide is expected to grow from 17.8 million units in 2010 to
53.5 million units in 2011. The five-year CAGR (Compound Annual
Growth Rate) is 48.5 percent, according to the IDC 1Q11 Media
Tablet and eReader Tracker Forecast. These thin, high-performance
mobile computing platforms combine sophisticated components in a
small physical area, compounding design complexity and driving the
need for industry standards.
Embedded SSDs offer fast performance
in a tiny footprint, making them an attractive solution for all
categories of ultrathin devices. The SATA µSSD specification
eliminates the module connector from the traditional SATA
interface, enabling developers to produce a single-chip SATA
implementation for embedded storage applications. Among the first
products to implement the new standard, the SanDisk iSSD series is
an ideal storage solution for OEMs developing the next generation
of thin, powerful mobile computing platforms.
"To widely adopt a new component
technology, manufacturers need to have confidence in its
performance, longevity and cost-effectiveness," said Jeff
Janukowicz, research manager, solid state storage technology, IDC.
"Today's announcement of an industry-wide standardization for
embedded SSDs, combined with OEM requirements for size and
performance gains in storage, should help propel the market for
these tiny, versatile drives."
"Connector-free embedded SSDs allow
OEMs to develop a new generation of thin yet powerful tablets and
ultrathin notebooks," said Kevin Conley, senior vice president,
client storage solutions, SanDisk. "Initiatives such as the µSSD
specification promote the development of new standards for storage
solutions that help manufacturers continually refine their end
consumer product and drive new industry sectors."
The SATA µSSD standard-conforming
SanDisk iSSD series utilizes a new electrical pin-out that allows
SATA delivery using a single ball grid array (BGA) package. The BGA
package sits directly on the motherboard, allowing for form factors
as small as 16mm x 20mm x 1.2mm (up to 32GB)/1.4mm (for 64GB) and
16mm x 20mm x 1.85mm (for 128GB). The SanDisk iSSD i100 SSD is
available in 8 gigabyte (GB)1 to 128GB capacities, offering OEMs a
flexible range of storage options.
"The market for tablets and ultrathin
computing devices continues to grow along with the need for small
form factor storage solutions," said Mladen Luksic, president,
SATA-IO. "We are excited to have industry-wide support for the µSSD
specification and look forward to seeing many µSSD-based products
available in the near future."
SanDisk Solid State
Drives
Supported by vertical integration and more than 20 years of flash
memory innovation, SanDisk SSDs empower global manufacturers to
satisfy the growing consumer demand for powerful mobile computing
platforms such as tablets and notebooks. SanDisk offers a full
range of client PC SSD products, including the U100 SSD for
cost-effective performance and customizable form factors, the
SanDisk iSSD for OEMs who need an embedded µSSD SATA form factor,
and a consumer offering that includes the SanDisk Ultra® SSD, which
serves as a drop-in replacement for hard disk drives.
About SanDisk
SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) is a global leader in flash
memory storage solutions, from research and development, product
design and manufacturing to branding and distribution for OEM and
retail channels. Since 1988, SanDisk's innovations in flash memory
and storage system technologies have provided customers with new
and transformational digital experiences. SanDisk's diverse product
portfolio includes flash memory cards and embedded solutions used
in smart phones, tablets, digital cameras, camcorders, digital
media players and other consumer electronic devices, as well as USB
flash drives and solid-state drives (SSD) for the computing market.
SanDisk's products are used by consumers and enterprise customers
around the world.
SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based
S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, with more than half its sales
outside the United States. For more information, visit www.sandisk.com.
*Data sourced and used
with permission from IDC 1Q11 Media Tablet and eReader Tracker
Forecast
1 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes. Some capacity not
available for data storage.
SanDisk's product and executive
images can be downloaded from www.sandisk.com/corporate/media.asp
SanDisk's web site/home page address:
© 2011 SanDisk Corporation. All
rights reserved. SanDisk and the SanDisk logo and SanDisk Ultra are
trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States
and other countries. SanDisk iSSD is a trademark of SanDisk
Corporation. SATA and µSSD are unregistered trademarks of Serial
ATA International Organization. Other brand names mentioned herein
are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of
their respective holder(s).
This press release contains certain
forward-looking statements, including expectations for new
products, applications, features, markets and customers that are
based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and
uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be
inaccurate. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements
to be inaccurate include among others: the market demand for our
products may grow more slowly than our expectations, our products
may not be available in the capacities that we anticipate or our
products may not perform as expected and the other risks detailed
from time-to-time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings
and reports, including, but not limited to our quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K. We do not intend to
update the information contained in this press release.