Sony Ericsson to drop Memory Stick Micro for microSD
updated 09:10 pm EDT, Mon June 1, 2009
Sony to drop M2
Sony Ericsson plans to drop the controversial Memory Stick Micro (M2) standard, according to TrustedReviews. The company's global marketing director, Fortuné Alexander, acknowledged the transition to microSD and microSDHC formats for upcoming devices. Sony Ericsson recently announced the Aino and Satio handsets, both integrating microSDHC slots instead of requiring Memory Sticks.
When asked if M2 would be eventually phased out of all Sony Ericsson models, Alexander confirmed that "Yes, we are moving in that direction."
It remains unknown if Sony plans to follow a similar path with devices such as the PSP. The upcoming PSP Go! is rumored to use a high-speed format such as the Memory Stick HG-Micro standard that debuted earlier this year, although the company has yet to confirm the reports.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2008
Nokia's S60
Both Aino and Satio uses Nokia's S60 Symbian platform. In order to support Memory Stick they would have had to do additional work to include the Memory Stick support in S60. Easier just to use microSD and be compatible with the rest of the world.
Sony has not had such a great success on pushing it's proprietary solutions to consumers in areas where an already exists an accepted solution. Seems to me they are learning.