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February 24, 2000
CeBIT, Hanover, Germany, February 24th, 2000 - Sony Corporation today announced that the "Memory Stick" format will be supported by nineteen new companies. These companies from the Computer, Electronics, and Automotive industries in Europe, Japan, the United States, and Asia will now work with Sony to finalize definitive agreements to license the "Memory Stick" hardware/device specifications.
With today's announcement, the total number of companies to license the "Memory Stick" specifications reached forty-six companies (forty-four for the hardware/device license, and two for the media license). These companies will be able to manufacture and commercialize a wide variety of compliant products. As a result, "Memory Stick" is certain to enhance its presence in a broad range of industries to become the key transfer media of digital contents in the digital network world.
"Compaq is excited to work with Sony and looks forward to deliver creative solutions for our customers utilizing the 'Memory Stick' technology for our future products." said Ted Clark, VP iAppliances Division, Compaq Computer Corp.
"Sony has already introduced a number of 'Memory Stick' products such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras, and Walkman portable audio players," said Yoshihide Nakamura, Corporate Senior Vice President, Sony Corporation. "Now is the right moment to enhance the 'Memory Stick' world, especially in new fields such as computers and automotive industries. We believe 'Memory Stick' has great potential to create a new way to enjoy digital contents that are easily shared among various digital networked devices."
| Industry | Company |
|---|---|
| Computer/Electronics | AIWA Co., Ltd. Acer Laboratories Inc.* Adobe Systems Inc. Alpine Electronics, Inc. Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Clarion Co., Ltd. Compaq Computer Corporation* DataFab Systems Inc. Fujitsu Ten Ltd.* Hitachi, Ltd. (Semiconductor Division)* I-O Data Device, Inc. Kenwood Corporation Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. LG Electronics Inc. Marantz Japan, Inc.* Mitsubishi Electric Corporation* Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Onkyo Corporation* Palm Computing, Inc. Pioneer Corporation Ricoh Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.* Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. SCM Microsystems, Inc.* Seiko Epson Corporation Sharp Corporation SIS (Silicon Integrated Systems Corp.)* Teac Co., Ltd. Texas Instruments Incorporated* Total Technology Company Ltd.* Western Digital Corp. Xanavi Informatics Corporation* YE Data Inc.* |
| Telecommunications | France Telecom |
| Automotive | Audi AG General Motors Corporation* Holden* Opel* Saab* Vauxhall* Volkswagen AG |
| Computer/Electronics | Fujitsu Ltd. Lexar Media |
"Memory Stick" is a compact-sized IC recording media incorporating the rewritable flash memory technology. Along with its compact-size and stick shape, the "Memory Stick" features a reliable connector structure and a locking switch to prevent accidental data deletion. All of these features make "Memory Stick" the best suited media for a wide variety of applications.
Since the introduction of the "Memory Stick" in September 1998, Sony has developed and introduced a number of compliant products, including Handycam digital video cameras, Cyber-shot digital still cameras, VAIO notebook and desktop computers, CyberFrame digital photo frames, digital photo printers, and voice recorders. In December 1999*, Sony commercialized the "Memory Stick" Walkman together with the "MagicGate Memory Stick" (32/64MB) with robust copyright protection technology to offer a new type of digital audio application such as music distribution over the Internet.
The "Memory Stick" is currently available in storage capacities of 4MB, 8MB, 16MB, 32MB, and 64MB, with 256MB slated for introduction within the year 2001.
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its music, pictures, computer entertainment operations and on-line businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of over $56 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999. Sony's Home Page is here.
