Toshiba Introduces Its 64MB and 128MB SmartMedia Cards.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

COMDEX Fall 2000

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 2000

In keeping up with the needs of the growing market demand for removable solid-state storage, Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. (TAEC) with its parent company Toshiba Corp. (Toshiba), Monday added to its line-up of high capacity NAND flash memories with the addition of 64- and 128-megabyte (MB) SmartMedia(TM) cards.

Toshiba's 64MB SmartMedia card is based on its single-chip 512-megabit (Mb) device, one of the industry's highest capacity monolithic die. The 128MB SmartMedia card is based on Toshiba's 1-gigabit (Gb) device, which combines two of the 512Mb chips. Both products are based on Toshiba's advanced 0.16-micron (um) process technology.

The new 64MB and 128MB SmartMedia cards fully conform to the SmartMedia specifications finalized by the Solid State Floppy Disk Card (SSFDC) Forum. In an effort to prevent illegal copying of copyrighted audio content, every card is allocated a unique serial number. Toshiba's newest additions to its already comprehensive line of SmartMedia memory technologies fulfill the market demand for solid-state file storage memory solutions.

"NAND flash continues to be the storage media of choice for solid-state storage applications due to its high-speed programming capability, high-speed erasing and small block size," said Jackie Traeumer, senior business development manager, Flash Products, at TAEC. "With the addition of the 64- and 128-megabyte cards, we are continuing to address our customers needs for even greater storage capacity."

Applications for the new cards include digital cameras, music players/records and solid-state disk drives for mass storage applications. These solid-state drives provide faster access for network file storage and higher reliability and lower power than traditional rotating media. As NAND flash has increased in density and decreased in cost per megabyte, more notebooks and sub-notebook PCs are using NAND-flash-based cards as an alternative to hard disk drives and floppy drives.

Product Specifications

Part Number                           TC58NS512DC (64MB)
                                      TH58NS100DC (128MB)

Process                               0.16um process technology

Power Supply                          3.3+/-0.3V

Page Size                             512+16 Bytes

Block Size                            16 kilobytes

Programming Time                      200u seconds per page

Erasing Time                          2 milliseconds per block

Access Time                           25 microseconds (1st), 50
                                      nanoseconds (serial)

Dimension                             37 x 45 x 0.76 millimeters

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the 64MB card are available now, with volume production slated for the end of fourth quarter of 2000. The 64MB card samples are priced at $150. Samples of the 128MB card will be available in first quarter of 2001, with volume production slated for late first quarter of 2001. Samples of the 128MB card are expected to be priced at $300.

Market Outlook

According to Semico Research Corp., the discrete flash memory market has grown dramatically in the last few years, rising to $4.6 billion in 1999, and is predicted to reach $8.6 billion in 2000. Revenues in 2001, are expected to grow 46.1 percent to $11.9 billion, then continue with this growth through 2004. Total worldwide flash revenues are projected to reach $23.2 billion by 2004.

Background of Development

The market for SmartMedia cards is expanding, as manufacturers make use of its advantages -- slim, compact size, light weight and low cost due to no on-board controller and simple packaging -- in digital still cameras, PDAs and data storage products, including solid-state audio that will replace magnetic media. The market is now moving toward high capacity SmartMedia, and Toshiba is meeting that demand with its latest generation of NAND-flash-based products.

A recognized pioneer in flash technology, Toshiba invented NAND flash technology in 1989. NAND flash is becoming one of the leading technologies for solid-state storage applications because of its high-speed programming capability, high-speed erasing, small block size and low cost. The sequential nature (serial access) of NAND-based flash memory provides notable advantages for these block-oriented data storage applications. Toshiba's NAND flash memory products are optimized for general solid-state storage, image file storage and audio for applications such as solid-state disk drives, digital cameras, audio appliances, set-top boxes and industrial storage. These newly announced products round out the company's current solutions which also include 64Mb, 128Mb and 256Mb densities along with 512Mb dual die and 1Gb devices.

About TAEC

TAEC, recognized as one of the largest suppliers of semiconductor, electronic component, and storage solutions, is the North American engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and sales arm of Japan's Toshiba Semiconductor Company and Toshiba Display Devices and Components Company. The Toshiba Semiconductor Company is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of semiconductor products including LSIs, microprocessors and controllers, and advanced memory products, in addition to discrete and analog peripheral components. TAEC is also responsible for sales and marketing of other major electronic components including liquid crystal displays, color display and picture tubes, lithium-ion and other secondary batteries. For additional information, visit TAEC's Web site at www.toshiba.com/taec.

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