[y2krog2000]

The new 2TB (2048GB) “µcard,” developed by Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and seven local-industry players, is now waiting for marketable solutions to be developed, based on the initial specifications established in early October. The developers have formed the Mu-Card Alliance to promote the new standard.
A source at RiChip, which is one of the participating companies in the alliance, has hinted to DigiTimes that the director of the US-based MultiMediaCard Association (MMCA) will hold a conference with the Taiwan-based developers in mid-January. The conference is aimed at establishing a partnership between MMCA and the developers, according to a source at RiChip. The MMCA may also launch the new specification on behalf of the developers, the source added.
The company source further indicated that a complete specification should be finalized by the end of February 2005 for interested manufacturers. The developers are all striving to raise awareness among local leading enterprises. Many have already expressed an interest, including Asustek Computer, Compal Electronics and MediaTek, the source noted.
None of the companies mentioned were available for comment prior to publication.
The latest information confirms the µcard specifications quoted in the August 6 DigiTimes article and adds the number of connection pads (20), the operating voltage (legacy 5V, 3.3V, 1.8V), the frequency (60MHz) and the interface (MMC SPI USB, x1, x4, x8, x16). There is also a micro-size card added at 24×18×1.4mm (14mm shorter than the full size 24×32×1.4mm).
Demonstration µcards were displayed to industry players during October, but volume production has not yet begun, sources indicated.