PCMCIA Develops a New Expansion Card Technology Specification

PCMCIA, announced that its newest specification, codenamed NEWCARD, will offer integrated desktop and mobile external expansion into a single standard. Slated for release later this year, the NEWCARD standard is targeted for OEMs seeking small footprint for thinner mobile designs and sealed systems for desktop designs.

NEWCARD is the next evolution of the PC Card, combining a smaller form factor and faster performance with the PC Card's reliability and ease of use. NEWCARD supports hot swappable device-sharing between mobile and desktop devices, similar to how USB devices can be shared. Desktop users will benefit from NEWCARD's plug-n-play ease of use, which eliminates the need to open the chassis to add new features. The new standard is operating-system independent.

Microsoft, Intel, IBM, Dell, HP, Lexar Media, SCM Microsystems and Texas Instruments support the NEWCARD standard. PCMCIA is also collaborating with the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) and the PCI-SIG (Peripheral Component Interconnect-Special Interest Group) to ensure NEWCARD supports advanced serial I/O technologies. PCMCIA expects to introduce the final standard in the fall.

PC Card technology adds expansion capabilities such as memory, mass storage, networking and wireless communications to computers and other communications and consumer electronics devices. Future expansion capabilities range from wireless communications, ultra wideband TV tuners, security card readers to optical compression/encryption and smart clocking.

Version 1.0 of the specification will only be available to PCMCIA members. Companies wishing to participate in the specification development are invited to contact PCMCIA. Currently, products supporting NEWCARD are expected to debut in the second half of 2004. For more information, visit www.pcmcia.org .