SanDisk touts Service Delivery Card at MWC

SanDisk has unveiled a range of removable Service Delivery Cards at MWC

Flash storage giant SanDisk has unveiled a range of removable storage cards at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona built specifically for mobile network operators (MNOs).

The Service Delivery Card (SDC) is a specially redesigned chip in the microSD format which give MNOs access to a partitioned section of the card's storage. This allows them to configure local storage to streamline data delivery, improve high capacity memory performance and integrate with network applications and services, according to SanDisk.

The company explained that the idea is to help enhance the user experience by allowing operators to reserve memory for key applications and services, thereby providing a host of dynamically added content on the device.

To address the need for in-store and out-of-box consumer education, the SanDisk SDC can be pre-loaded with a Service Discovery experience customised for each MNO, to promote awareness and increase adoption of operator services.

The media on the sectioned portion of the SDC can be accessed through a customisable MNO-branded interface that includes unique packaging, accessories and the Service Discovery software. This is designed to give operators the freedom to deliver the latest applications, content and access to services through a physical media channel to the handset, rather than through a traditional web portal which can be slow and erratic.

"We are introducing our first products in a new family of high-performance microSD memory solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of MNOs worldwide," said Yoram Cedar, executive vice president and general manager of OEM and corporate engineering at SanDisk.

"These customised cards highlight applications and services for the MNO, and show end users how to get the most out of their mobile experience."

SanDisk will also provide services to pre-load data, applications and promotional offers, as well as integrate with existing MNO services.

With voice revenues flattening out, mobile operators are increasingly looking to other revenue streams, such as value-added content in which they can provide more than just the delivery, with third parties then making the majority of the money.

The SDC gives MNOs the ability to add an intelligent, network-aware memory platform that binds data to the network, and allows them to launch and install applications requested by the user onto handsets.

The family of cards also features SanDisk's latest Smart Card Web Server technology, allowing them to be embedded with a web server to provide a high-speed interface and storage capacity for web content and services on the handset. Furthermore, it adds powerful search and content management capabilities, and the IP-enabled SDC can be used by handset manufacturers to speed access to local data.

"The establishment of global high-speed cellular networks has given rise to a new era of mobile computing, featuring access to applications, services and data right from the palm of your hand," said Cedar.

"The embedded Smart Card Web Server opens a channel to our SDCs using industry-standard IP protocols to facilitate operator delivery of these new services."