USB Flash drives to carry portable applications
USB Flash drives to carry portable applications
USB Flash drives will soon be used for more than storage purposes following plans to transform it into a product that can carry, store and launch applications and data on any PC anywhere.
M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers and SanDisk Corporation announced the creation of the U3 platform at the Consumer Electronics Show 2005.
There has been a lack of standardisation with USB flash drives in the past, which has hampered the use of these drives beyond storage. However, consumers who buy U3-compliant USB drives will now have the ability to take the U3-compliant applications with them wherever they go.
These drives will contain a Launch Pad desktop interface to simplify viewing, launching, downloading and managing all U3 compliant applications stored on the devices.
Eli Harari, SanDisk's president and chief executive officer, said: "U3 creates a new, open, standard that will take the USB flash drives from the simple storage devices they are told to portable devices that are empowered by rich applications, harnessing the creative energy of a multitude of independent developers.
"This platform will dramatically increase the value of USB drives to consumers and developer alike. SanDisk and M-Systems intend to strongly support and promote the U3 platform creating what we hope will become the U3 Economy."
U3 aims to build a community of software developers by providing access to a large and growing base of U3 enabled devices. It plans to provide developers with ongoing support including development tools, business and technical support and a web-based distribution channel where millions of users will be able to buy and download U3 applications.
Joe Unsworth, an analyst for Gartner Inc., talked about the advantages of this news: "Software applications for flash drives have been largely developed for proprietary devices with limited markets opportunity. Without a standard, developers were lacking key features to enable mobility and robust security, lacking multi-vendor interoperability, and lacking open, standards-based development tools.
"Creating a unified standard for USB drive application development will fuel innovation and foster cross-vendor compatibility."
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