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• An electronic flash memory device offering an easy, fast and reliable way for storing and transferring digital data.
• Non-volatile storage i.e. data is not lost even when the card is removed from the device and can be reformatted and reused.
• Now widely used in electronic devices like mobile phones, digital cameras, handheld devices, laptops, mp3 players etc.

Types

Compact Flash

• Is the most common digital camera memory.
• It was designed based on PCMCIA standard card and can fit into PCMCIA slot with an adaptor.
• There are two types : type | and type ||, where type || is thicker than type |.
• Type | - 43 x 36 x 3.3 mm and type || - 43 x 36 x 5 mm.
• Capacity ranges from 64 MB to 16 GB.
• Size of card is bit bigger compare to other types.

SD (Secure Digital) Card

• Used in portable devices like digital video cam recorder, mobile phones, handheld computers etc.
• Standard size is 32 x 24 x 2.1 mm.
• Contains 9 pins and maximum transfer rate varies from 100 - 200 MBPS
• On left hand side of the card contains write protection tab, which prevents data from being to be read, written and deleted.
• MiniSD Card
• Offers same features of SD card, but smaller in size compare to SD card.
• Used in new mobile phones, handheld devices etc.
• Size : 21.5 x 20 x 1.4 mm and storage capacity ranges from 16 MB to 8 GB as miniSD and 4 GB to 32 GB as SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity).
• Contains 11 pins and maximum transfer rate is 100 MBPS.
• MicroSD Card
• It is one of the smallest memory card available.
• Used in new cellular phones, GPS devices, portable media player etc.
• Size: 15 x 11 x 1 mm and storage capacity ranges from 1 GB to 64 GB.
• Contains 8 pins and maximum transfer rate is around 200 MBPS.
• To use MiniSD and MicroSD card in SD slot, you need an passive adaptor.
• Card differs in size and shape but not in electrical interface.

Multi Media Card

• Used in cellular phones, digital cameras, PDA's, digital audio players etc.
• Size 24 x 32 x 1.4 mm and capacity ranges from 64 MB to 32 GB.
• Contains 8 pins and maximum transfer rate is 20 MBPS.
• There are various versions of MMC like RS-MMC, MMC plus, and Secure MMC.

Memory Sticks

• Sony developed it for cyber shot digital camera, cellular phones, PDA's and other wide varieties of sony electronic devices.
• Sony memory stick has limitation of 128 MB, which is resolved in Memory stick PRO.
• Memory Stick PRO has maximum storage capacity and faster file transfer speed.
• Memory Stick Duo has small form-factor.
• Similar types of cards are available with advanced features:
  Memory Stick PRO-Duo
  Memory Stick Micro
  Memory Stick XC