SanDisk, Record Companies Plan MicroSD Music Format

Flash memory maker SanDisk is teaming up with the recording industry to offer music on microSD cards. The plan is to put new music, ripped at 320 Kbps complete with liner notes, videos and other extras, onto 1GB microSD cards and sell them at music retail stores as well as locations such as Wal-Mart. The microSD cards will also come with a small USB reader so they can be inserted into a computer. The songs will not be protected by DRM, so they can be moved between phones and other devices. The new format will be called slotMusic. EMI Music, SONY BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group are all participating in the new venture, and all parties involved plan to have slotMusic titles available by the holiday season.