SanDisk and Sony today announced the development of the "Memory Stick PRO-HG" format expanded from the "Memory Stick PRO" format. The Memory Stick Duo-sized card ups the maximum storage capacity to 32GB.

This new media format uses an 8-bit parallel interface in addition to a conventional serial and 4-bit parallel interface. The interface clock frequency also increases to 60MHz from 40MHz. This means that maximum data transfer speed increases up to 480Mbps, or 60MB/s (theoretical value), three times as fast as that of "Memory Stick PRO" media. The minimum write speed at 8-bit parallel transfer is 120 Mbps, or 15MB/s.

Since "Memory Stick PRO-HG" is an extended format of the "Memory Stick PRO" format, "Memory Stick PRO-HG" compliant host devices support the conventional "Memory Stick PRO" media as well as "Memory Stick PRO-HG" media. In addition, the "Memory Stick PRO-HG" media can be used conventional "Memory Stick PRO" compliant host devices as well as "Memory Stick PRO-HG" compliant host devices.

Licensing for the development of "Memory Stick PRO-HG" compliant host devices is scheduled to commence in January 2007. The Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo media will be made available in 2007.

Main Specifications

Dimensions Duo size: (31 ? 20 ? 1.6) mm
Connector: Pin 14-pin
Capacity: 32GB (format maximum)
Max. Data Transfer Rate: 480 Mbps (theoretical)
Min. Write Speed:
120 Mbps (8-bit parallel transfer)
40 Mbps (4-bit parallel transfer)

Operating Voltage: 2.7 to 3.6 V
Interface: 8-bit / 4-bit parallel I/F and Serial I/F
Max. Clock frequency: 60MHz
Copyright Protection Technology: MagicGate