PCMCIA, the group behind PC Cards, is working on a
specification for smaller, faster and cheaper expansion
cards.
The specification is due for release later this year, and the
first product supporting it should be out in the second half of
2004, PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International
Association) said at Intel's Developer Forum in San Jose.
The expansion card, codenamed Newcard, is designed for both
desktop and mobile computers, so users can buy one card and use it
in both systems. For notebooks in particular, the smaller card will
allow sleeker computer designs.
Backers of the specification include PCMCIA members, Dell
Computer, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, memory specialist Lexar Media
and Intel.
Also working on the specification with PCMCIA are the USB
Implementers Forum and the PCI-SIG (Peripheral Component
Interconnect Special Interest Group). The specification will
support the USB 2.0 and PCI Express serial I/O (input/output)
technologies. It is the first time that the three industry
organisations have teamed up to create and promote a
specification.
Exisiting PC Cards are mostly used on portable computers.
Popular applications for the credit card-sized cards are WLan
adaptors, wireless modems and memory card readers.