PC Card Vs. PCMCIA

PCMCIA refers to the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. The PCMCIA is a group of technology companies that create and publish technical specifications, or standards, for developing small form-factor memory cards that connect to notebook and other computers. Technology manufacturers began producing cards based on the PCMCIA's standards and referred to the cards as PCMCIA cards. However, the acronym, PCMCIA, was found to be confusing to consumers, so the PCMCIA acquired the rights to use the term PC Card. Technology vendors now refer to cards that meet the PCMCIA's published PC card standards simply as PC Cards. The essential difference is that PCMCIA refers to the organization and PC Card refers to the standard and to devices that meet the standard.

Organization

The PCMCIA, or Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, was founded in 1989. The organization is dedicated to creating and publishing standards for the cards used to connect to notebook computers. Specifically, their mission statement is "To develop standards for modular peripherals and promote their worldwide adoption." The PCMCIA is a global organization with executive member companies from around the world, and actively works to achieve its mission statement through publications, education for both technology vendors and technology consumers, and participation in industry trade shows and events.

Standard

The PCMCIA publishes and updates the PC Card standard. The PC Card standard establishes the physical dimensions, electromechanical properties, and software requirements and usages that define the term PC Card. The standard provides a means for the numerous technology vendors who manufacture hardware and develop software for notebook cards to ensure that all the products will operate together correctly. The physical standard for PC Cards requires a 68-pin interface between the card and the card socket. The PC Card standard also allows for three different form factors, referred to as Type I, Type II and Type III, which vary in their relative thickness.

Applications

Cards developed in compliance with the PC Card standard are used for a wide range of applications. The PCMCIA website lists a variety of technologies that have been implemented in PC Card form. Security applications include biometric cards such as fingerprint readers and hardware tokens, which are cards with special codes on them without which a computer will not operate. PC Cards are used for network connectivity, in formats such as Ethernet adapters, infrared LAN adapters, wireless network adapters and cellular network, or WAN, network adapters. Multimedia applications include radio tuner cards, digital camera cards, video capture cards, television tuner cards and video teleconferencing cards. And, because of their storage capacity, PC Cards are often used as memory cards and external storage drives.

Members

The PCMCIA is composed of members that represent the numerous technologies that must interoperate for the PC Card standard to be successful. Notebook and other hardware manufacturers include Lenovo, Sony and Toshiba. Software companies include Microsoft, and wireless technology companies include Novatel Wireless, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (USA), Sierra Wireless and Qualcomm. Data storage device manufacturers include Lexar Media and Sandisk Corporation.

History

The PCMCIA was founded in 1989. The PCMCIA published its first standards in June, 1990, defining the physical dimensions for compatible cards. A 2.0 version of the standard added the option for Type III cards. In 1996 and 1997, the PCMCIA released standards that allowed for interface customization and for zoomed video support. In 2009, the PCMCIA released the 2.0 version of its ExpressCard standard.

References

• PCMCIA
• The PC Card FAQ by David Cary