Samsung to unveil new mass-storage memory cards

Samsung Electronics Co., the world's top computer memory chip maker, said Wednesday it plans to expand its memory card line-up in a bid to better meet growing demand for mass-storage memory cards for mobile devices.

Samsung plans to introduce a 64-gigabyte (GB) SD card and micro SD card that run on the Ultra-High Speed interface at the upcoming IFA trade show in Berlin, Germany, the company said in a news release.

The memory cards, which are an upgraded version of 16GB products that started mass production in April, can read up to three times faster compared with existing products, according to the company.

The new models are set to hit shelves in mid-October, Samsung said, adding it plans to ramp up the portion of premium products in the NAND flash sector.

Demand for premium mass-storage memory cards has been on the rise, as a growing number of consumers are playing full high-definition videos or games on their smartphones and tablet computers.

Worldwide shipments of NAND flash memory are projected to reach 23.2 billion units in 2013, nearly doubling from 14.4 billion units this year, according to market researcher IHS iSuppli. In 2011, shipments totaled 8.7 billion units. (Yonhap)