Standards are needed for plug-in memory cards for personal computers, Fujitsu Microelectronics Inc reckons, and at the end of last month it hosted the first meeting for interested parties in San Jose, attracting representatives of more than 20 companies to discuss the formation of an association dedicated to adopting a worldwide standardised memory card format – the cards in question, like Smart Cards, are about the size of credit cards but are designed for program storage. About a dozen manufacturers supply memories packaged inside a plastic card, but each vendor currently offers its own shapes and formats of cards, so that they cannot be used interchangeably with different laptop and desktop computers. There was overwhelming agreement from those in attendance that a worldwide memory card standard needs to be established, says Fujitsu, which reports that a second meeting to determine the charter and goals of the proposed association has been set for Friday July 28 in San Jose. Companies represented at the meeting included AMP Inc; Citizen Systems; Dupont Electronics; Epson America Inc; Lotus Development Corp; Maxell Corp of America; Microchip Technology; Microlinks; Micron Technology; Microsoft Corp; Mitsubishi Electronics; NEC Home Electronics; ROO Systems; Poqet Computer Corp; Sanyo Semiconductor; Smart Card Monthly; Smart Cards and Comments; Toshiba Corp; Wordperfect Corp; and Wordstar International Inc.
