The i-mode Alliance, which consists of 18 mobile network providers around the globe, has selected SanDisks TrustedFlash technology as the preferred solution for securely pre-loading and downloading premium content on removable flash memory cards in mobile phones that use i-mode mobile Internet services outside of Japan. The announcement was made at 3GSM World Congress, where SanDisk is exhibiting in Hall 7, Stand 7C62 and Hall 8, Stand 8C74.
SanDisks TrustedFlash is currently available on SanDisk microSD flash memory cards that fit into slots on i-mode enabled handsets. TrustedFlash secures premium content to the card itself, so that consumers can easily move their purchased entertainment to another i-mode phone simply by transferring the card. This allows users to store more of their premium and personal content, and to upgrade their phone without abandoning their files.
More than 53 million people across the globe subscribe to i-mode services, which are currently available in 16 countries in Asia-Pacific and Europe, including Australia, Belgium, Israel, Japan, Russia, Taiwan and the UK. TrustedFlash is launching initially in Europe, with French i-mode operator Bouygues Telecom the first company to incorporate TrustedFlash into its network.
The TrustedFlash card is one of the key elements of the i-mode Alliance strategy toward the mass adoption of its multimedia services, says Takeshi Natsuno, NTT DoCoMo Senior Vice President responsible for the i-mode Alliance. It brings more value to end users, enabling them to carry content everywhere, allowed while protecting the assets of the service providers and providing the maximum flexibility for the mobile operator. TrustedFlash is an important marketing tool to increase revenue from the i-mode services and the operator stores.
TrustedFlash memory cards for i-mode phones will be sold through mobile phone and electronics stores in the countries where the service is available, and will be offered initially on SanDisk microSD cards.
SanDisk is the original inventor of flash storage cards and is the worlds largest supplier of flash data storage card products, using its patented, high-density flash memory and controller technology.