GENEVA, March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- By 2010 almost 70% of cellular handsets sold will feature a slot for a removable memory card*. Designers can minimize the impact of this feature on handset dimensions by using the EMIF06-mSD02N16 SD Card interface IC announced by STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a world leader in analog ICs.

Filtering and protection circuitry for an SD Card slot can occupy some 35 square millimeters of board space, but the 1.2 x 3.5mm EMIF06-mSD02N16 saves up to 88% of this area to help designers manage PCB dimensions. All necessary electromagnetic (EMI) filtering, electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and pull-up resistors are provided on-chip. Support for either electrical or mechanical methods of detecting card insertion maximizes flexibility for handset designers. The EMIF06-mSD02N16 also has a very low mounted height of 0.5mm for use in ultra-slim handset designs, and is the smallest and most highly integrated SD card-interface IC available. The interface supports standard SD cards as well as the MiniSD and MicroSD formats, and will also save space in devices such as ultra-mobile PCs and digital cameras.

Removable memory is an exciting feature for coming generations of handsets, enabling downloading, transferring and sharing of media as well as purchasing of content such as e-books. SD formats already dominate mobile phones and other consumer electronic platforms, and iSupply predicts MiniSD and MicroSD will make up 90% of all card slots in 2010. In addition, the SD Card Association has recently extended its roadmap by announcing Embedded SD, which will enable removable and embedded memory to share a common interface leading to simpler system design.

The EMIF06-mSD02N16 enables mobile phone suppliers and users to benefit from the SD format's powerful positioning, and is available immediately priced at $0.32 each in quantities of 10,000 units.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2008, the Company's net revenues were $9.84 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

* According to iSuppli

Web site: http://www.st.com/