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MultiMediaCard Specification
Version 4.0 is Released
Wider Bus Width, Highest Clock
Frequencies Available, and Dual Voltage Operation Are Ideal for Cell Phones and Digital
Cameras
Version 4.0 of the MultiMediaCard specification, offering wider bus width, dual voltage
operation and the highest transfer speeds available, was introduced today by the
MultiMediaCard Association (MMCA), a standards organization that promotes the worldwide
adoption of MultiMediaCards (MMCs).
The new, feature-rich version 4.0
specification represents a major expansion of the MultiMediaCard standard, opening new
levels of sophistication and marketing opportunities to the digital imaging and mobile
phone industries.
To ensure smooth transition from previous
versions of the MMC standards, the new specification defines backward compatibility paths
for both legacy cards and host devices that accept MultiMediaCards. The specification is
provided to all MMCA members.
Three key features of the new
specification are:
-- Wider bus-width: The new multiple (x1
bit, x4 bit and x8 bit) bus-width feature now allows for host design flexibility and
higher data transfer bandwidth at a given clock speed, to accommodate the more data
intensive content in cell phones and digital cameras;
-- Higher clock frequency: Extending the
maximum clock frequencies from 20 MHz to 26 MHz and 52 MHz allows higher data transfer
rate and better compatibility to mobile phone architectural requirements. Operating at 52
MHz in x8 bit mode, data can be transferred at up to 52 Mbyte/sec., a 20-fold improvement
from the previous standards. This is the highest data transfer rate of all flash memory
card form factors available today.
-- Dual voltage operation: The MMC
specification is the first small form factor memory card standards to define both 3.3 V
and 1.8 V operations. 1.8 V compatibility is especially important for the new generations
of cell phones and small mobile devices that operate at lower voltages for lower power
consumption.
Definition of the specification is the
culmination of the work and major contributions from Nokia, Hewlett Packard, Renesas
Technology, Samsung Electronics, Infineon Technologies Flash, Micron Technology, SanDisk,
and other member companies in the Association. It was approved and adopted by the full
body of the MMCA Executive Membership.
According to Joe Unsworth, Semiconductor
Memory Analyst at GartnerDataquest, "The MMCA has made a strategic decision to target
the mobile phone market, and because that segment is forecast to be the leading
application for flash cards by 2006, it has given new life to the format."
According to Juergen Hammerschmitt,
President of the MMCA and Vice President, Business Development, Infineon Technologies
Flash, "As a major driver of the mobile memory standards, the MMCA is again
demonstrating its commitment to innovative customer solutions with this new specification.
The market demands MMCs with high-speed data transfer, low power consumption and in
minimum size. This specification, available to all MMCA members, will enable new services
in attractive new devices for everyone in the growing mobile community."
"This updated specification greatly
expands the horizons for OEMs, network operators and content providers of mobile video and
gaming applications," said Yves Leonard, MMCA Board Chairman. "Consumers will
soon see an explosion of multimedia content both on preloaded MMCs in stores, and
downloadable from cell phone networks."
According to Victor Tsai, MMCA Marketing
Committee Vice-Chair and Segment Marketing Manager at Renesas Technology America, Inc,
"Once again, the MultiMediaCard standard delivers what the market has demanded for
next-generation mobile electronic devices -- small size, fast data transfer, low operating
voltage, and above all, flexibility and compatibility. The new version 4.0 specification
represents a comprehensive memory card roadmap that bridges the mobile digital storage
applications of today, tomorrow and beyond."
Gen Shueh, MMCA Marketing Committee
Vice-Chair and Chief Strategy Officer of Power Digital Card adds, "Technology
breakthroughs achieved by the combined efforts of MMCA members allow Version 4.0
MultiMediaCards to offer the fastest data transfer rate of all available flash memory
cards today. This will open new horizons for advanced applications especially in the
mobile and digital imaging industries, as transfer speed is no longer an issue. A lot of
thanks should be given to the member companies who worked so closely to make this
possible."
"Both of our target markets,
cellular communications and digital imaging, will benefit from the features in our new MMC
specification," said Andy Prophet, Executive Director of the MMCA. "Data
transfer rate and operating voltage requirements of these applications have changed over
time and, as in the past, we listen to the market and provide host manufacturers with
solutions to their customers' demands."
The specification is available at no cost
to MMCA members.
About MultiMediaCards
MultiMediaCards are the small (24mm x 32
or 18mm x 1.4 mm), removable solid-state memory cards designed especially for mobile
phones and digital imaging, among other applications. These convenient, reliable, rugged
and lightweight standardized data carriers store up to 1 Gbyte, or approximately 640,000
book pages. MultiMediaCards use ROM or flash technology for read-only applications, and
flash technology for read/write applications. The cards are fast for excellent system
performance; energy efficient for prolonged battery life in portable products; and
cost-efficient for use in systems sold at consumer price points. They also have an
easy-to-install serial interface.
About The MMCA (MultiMediaCard
Association -- www.mmca.org)
The MMCA is the open standard memory card
organization, promoting worldwide adoption of a postage-stamp size, removable storage card
designed especially for mobile phones and digital imaging. Founded in 1998 with 14
companies, the MMCA has grown rapidly and now has 120 members worldwide, representing all
branches of mobile electronic applications, including semiconductor suppliers, software
vendors and manufacturers of low power devices for storing and retrieving digital
information.
The MMCA developed and regulates open
industry standards that define all types of MultiMediaCards, ensuring full
interoperability. The organization charges no royalties for using the membership-driven
standard, although a nominal license fee is included in the membership dues.
Specifications are easily available from the organization's website. MultiMediaCards are
becoming the industry standard for compact removable storage media across multiple host
platforms and markets, including cell phones, digital cameras, PDAs, MP-3 digital music
players, portable video games, GSM and laptop computers. MMCA headquarters are located at
PO Box 2012, Cupertino, CA USA 95015-2012. More information is at www.mmca.org.
MultiMediaCard is a trademark of
MultiMediaCard Association (MMCA). MMC is a trademark of Infineon Technologies.
Company/product names mentioned may be
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are used for
identification purpose only.
Note: It is now acceptable to use MMC as
an acronym for MultiMediaCards.
