Tech Shout!

Yesterday, Microsoft and SanDisk announced that they have signed an agreement, and will be coming out with next-generation software and hardware to develop new USB flash drives and flash memory cards. However, this new offering will be commercially available only in the second half of 2008.

The new drives will give users a portable version of their desktop that they can plug in to any notebook or desktop computer.

As per the agreement, software giant Microsoft will develop the new software, while flash memory maker SanDisk will develop the hardware, which will include the TrustedFlash security technology.

SanDisk will then incorporate the combined software and hardware solution on removable flash memory cards and its Cruzer USB flash drives.

The new USB flash drives and flash memory cards will replace as many as five different approaches that are now in use by SanDisk, including an effort called U3 that was launched in 2005 and based on proprietary software from SanDisk running on its embedded flash controllers.

U3 smart drives are the size of a pack of chewing gum or smaller and allows users to not only carry not only files but also popular Microsoft Windows software applications with their associated preferences and settings. Consumers simply plug a U3 smart drive into any Windows-based computer’s USB port to securely access personalized e-mail programs, Web browsers, productivity tools, multimedia applications and more. When they unplug their U3 smart drive, they take their personal information with them

“The U3 platform was established with the vision of giving customers a consistent and portable computing experience, the existing 20,000 U3 software developers that joined us show the potential for smart flash memory devices,” said Yoram Cedar, executive vice president of the Mobile Business Unit and Corporate Engineering at SanDisk.

According to Will Poole, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Market Expansion Group, “We are excited to work with SanDisk on this next-generation experience, which will allow hardware manufacturers to better differentiate their products and provide even richer software and services experience for customers.”

“We expect this relationship with Microsoft will raise the overall experience for consumers given Microsoft’s unique software expertise, and grow the momentum given the large community of third-party companies capable of utilizing Microsoft’s technologies,” said Yoram Cedar of SanDisk.