The Difference Between Transflash & Micro SD

TransFlash was developed to provide expandable memory for mobile phones.

TransFlash and microSD cards are the same card by a different name. The cards and the slots are all compatible. The MicroSD card is about the size and width of a fingernail, making it perfect for expandable media in small devices.

Rebranding

The SD Association -- an organization started by Panasonic, SanDisk and Toshiba to foster the SD card as the industry standard for flash memory -- announced the the official name change from TransFlash to microSD on July 13, 2005. This launched the standardization of microSD cards in mobile devices. Now, most mobile phones use microSD for their expandable memory.

Manufacturers

There were no technical changes between the two cards. Manufacturers who supported TransFlash were able to use the microSD brand on their products without causing any issues with compatibility. Customers who already used TransFlash were unaffected.

Usage

When TransFlash hit the market in 2004, it was chiefly used in mobile phones. As of October 2010, while microSD is the memory card used in many mobile phones, it also provides expandable memory for MP3 players, GPS units, cameras and other mobile devices.

References

• SanDisk: SanDisk microSD Memory Cards
• SD Association: SD Card: microSD Card
• SD Association: Press Release - July 13th, 2005
• Phone Scoop: microSD
• SD Association: About the SD Association