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Frequently Asked Questions
General
Product
Licensing
Membership
Other
General
- What is the SD Association?
- The SD Association is a global ecosystem of technology companies setting industry-leading memory card storage standards that simplify the use of consumer electronics and wireless communication products for millions of people everyday. SD Association was formed in January 2000 by Panasonic Corporation SanDisk Corporation and Toshiba Corporation. Today, the Association is made up of more than 1,000 member companies involved in the design, development, manufacture or sale of products or services using SD technology. The small, postage stamp-sized removable memory cards are used by some 400 global brands across dozens of product categories and found in more than 7,000 models.
Return to Questions - What is the function of the SD Association?
- The SD Association establishes the technical and specification standards for SD memory card applications, continuously promotes SD technology as the de-facto industry standard, and encourages the development of digital A/V, wireless communication, and digital networking products that utilize the many unique benefits of SD technology.
Return to Questions - How can the SD Association help me?
- By becoming a SD Association member, you receive the latest information on SD technology allowing you to build products and solutions that conform to the standard and avoid potential compatibility issues. You also may participate in SD Association activities to help advance the future of SD technology.
Return to Questions - What are the benefits of SD technology?
- SD technology is the de-facto standard for mobile phones, digital cameras, audio players, personal computers, printers, car navigation systems, electronic books, and many other consumer electronic devices. Many SD standards are available in a variety of capacities and speed classes: SDHC, miniSD and microSD. SD technology delivers high-performance products that simplify how millions of consumers capture and enjoy video, photos, and sounds every day. With SD products, consumers have the ultimate flexibility and convenience to store and share digital contents anytime and anywhere.
Return to Questions - Other memory card technologies exist in the market today. How does SD compare?
- SD technology is the de-facto industry standard across multiple market segments, including mobile phone, digital imaging, audio players and computer/consumer electronics.
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Product
- What specifications have been developed by SD Association?
- SD Association standards and specifications include:
- Standard Memory Cards (up to 2GB): SD, miniSD, microSD
- High-Capacity Memory Cards (above 2GB, 32GB and less): SDHC, miniSDHC, microSDHC
- SDIO (incl. miniSDIO) cards
- SD Application Specifications
- Host Controllers
Return to Questions - In what types of products is SD technology used?
- SD technology is the de-facto standard for mobile phones, digital cameras, audio players, personal computers, printers, car navigation systems, electronic books, and many other consumer electronic devices as well as some B-to-B solutions.
Return to Questions - How are the SD specifications developed?
- The SD Association Technical Steering Committee is made up of working groups focused on the development of next generation specifications. All members are allowed to participate in technical working groups but only Executive members are allowed to vote on the specifications.
Return to Questions - How can my company obtain the SD specification?
- You company may have access to the complete specification by becoming a member of SDA.
If your company is in the R&D stages and requires the complete specification, it is available without membership by providing a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and payment of designated fees to the association for one year.
Return to Questions - Does SD Association have a product certification program? How do you get certified?
- The SD Association offers a self-certification program to its members. The compliance committee recommends using the approved Test Specification which is made available to members on the members site.
Test tools for SD memory cards are provided by TESTMETRIX VTE2100 and International Microsystems M7800
A test tool for SD host devices based on the approved Test Specification is provided by Format Verification Lab of Panasonic at http://panasonic.co.jp/avc/fvl/en/.
Test tools for SD memory cards are provided the following two companies.
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Licensing
- Does my company need to obtain a license to use the SD card logo?
- Yes, the SD Association logo is trademarked. The license required to use the logo for SD host and ancillary products is the HALA license. The license required to use the logo for SD cards is the LAMS license.
Return to Questions - Does my company need to obtain a license to sell SD cards?
- Yes, the license required is the LAMS license. Your company also must sign a CLA Agreement with the SD-3C, LLC.
Return to Questions - Does my company need to obtain a license to sell a product that hosts the SD card?
- Yes, the license required to use the logo is the HALA license.
Return to Questions - How does my company obtain a License?
- License agreements and instructions are located on the SD Association Web site at http://www.sdcard.org/developers/join/licensing/.
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Membership
- What is the structure of the alliance?
- The SD Association has two levels of membership - Executive and General.
Executive members may attend all meetings and are entitled to vote on all SD Association related matters, receive all publications of the corporation and serve on the Board of Directors. The annual fee to join at the Executive membership level is $4500 per year.
General members may attend all meetings and receive all publications of the organization.
The annual fee to join at the General membership level is $2000 per year.
Return to Questions - How can my company become a member?
- Fill out the online form, fax the signed application to the SD Association office, and pay the first year of membership.
Applicants are also required to read and agree to all of the principles, policies and procedures as set forth in the SD Association's By-laws, Antitrust Guidelines and Intellectual Property Policy.
Return to Questions - What is the duration of the membership?
- Membership in the SD Association is yearly. Annual member dues are automatically billed to the member company unless the member officially resigns from membership in writing to the SD Association office at least 30 days prior to renewal date.
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Other
- How can I get more information on the Association?
- Please contact the SD Association office at help@sdcard.org
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