SanDisk has announced a new technology called TrustedFlash which allows consumers to buy premium music, movies and games on flash memory cards for use in mobile phones, laptop computers, PDAs and other portable devices.

Music labels and movie studios will be able to release premium content on TrustedFlash products because of the security and digital rights management solutions available to them.  Consumers will also be able to download premium content from online digital services through their mobile phone or PC.  Alternatively, they can purchase pre-recorded content on SanDisk’s gruvi cards, the first product to be released with TrustedFlash.  Memory cards with TrustedFlash technology will be available in microSD, miniSD and SD formats.

Companies who have announced the adoption of TrustedFlash technology include:

EMI Music – who will release the new Rolling Stones album, A Bigger Bang, on SanDisk’s gruvi music card, the first removable flash memory card of its type to be sold with premium music content.  A Bigger Bang will be offered on a SanDisk microSD card.

Samsung – Samsung Mobile Communications Division will be the lead partner in providing mobile phones that support the new SanDisk TrustedFlash memory cards.  Both companies will work together to integrate SanDisk’s TrustedFlash software development kit into Samsung handsets.

Yahoo – Yahoo! Music Engine, a software application that lets listeners manage music, create playlists, purchase downloads as well as listen and search for songs, will be available with music cards that feature TrustedFlash.  The Yahoo! Music Engine will let users with TrustedFlash music cards for mobile phones and other portable devices play their music on Windows XP and Windows 2000 PCs.  The Yahoo! Music Engine software client will be bundled on TrustedFlash music cards.
 
NDS – TrustedFlash cards will incorporate security provided by mVideoGuard Mobile DRM technology from NDS Group, a majority-owned subsidiary of News Corporation.

The cryptographic engine core used in TrustedFlash was designed by Discretix Technologies, an Israeli company.

SanDisk has also introduced a new product -- SanDisk iNAND, a 4GB embedded flash memory storage device as an alternative to micro hard drives.  iNAND will incorporate SanDisk’s TrustedFlash technology.