SanDisk looks to expand mobile data storage

In an effort to cash in on the growing number of smartphones being sold in the United States and across the world, SanDisk hopes to create a new revenue stream focused on data storage technology catered for mobile phones.

Even though the majority of smartphones have a microSD slot, most phone owners don’t make use of it — but SanDisk hopes to change that in the future.  The flash company wants to work alongside phone manufacturers to let consumers know the microSD slot can be used to store additional music and video clips, while it’s also possible to share the memory cards with friends and family.

“We’re really working with the operators in a new way,” SanDisk’s Eliot Broadwin told Reuters.  “They have a relationship with the subscriber that is very unique.  The industry is really educated by the network operator.”

If all goes according to plan, the SanDisk cards would be customized for each carrier’s mobile phones, and the cost of the memory card would be shared between the phone service provider and SanDisk.

If this helps SanDisk convince more phone owners to use the microSD slot, it could prove to be a wise decision for the California-based technology company.

SanDisk and other flash memory manufacturers face lower prices for their products, and have been forced to create new ways to generate revenue.  SanDisk –the largest flash maker in the world — even said it is suffering because of struggling memory chip prices.