SanDisk has announced the world's first commercially available 32GB microSDHC memory card.
The Class 2 card doubles the previous maximum 16GB capacity, and carries a suggested retail price at launch of 144.99, which includes a five-year limited warranty.
The 15 x 11 x 1mm dimensions of the microSDHC format makes it tiny enough for mobile phones, and SanDisk said it is working with both handset manufacturers and mobile network operators to start implementing the new card as soon as possible.
In being the first to bring a finished product to market, SanDisk has managed to steal the spotlight from flash storage rival Samsung after the Korean giant was first to announce plans to produce its own 32GB version of the thumbnail-sized card back in January.
"With the large volume of photos, videos and music that consumers create and carry around, a high-capacity memory card is a must-have component of today's smartphone," said SanDisk president and chief operating officer Sanjay Mehrotra in a statement.
"This is the highest capacity card of its type, and SanDisk is pleased to be the first to ship such an advanced product. This marks yet another important first in our innovative history in the flash memory industry."
More than 170 devices have already been certified for use with the card, but that figure is likely to rise. More widespread adoption should also see the card's price dropping, with SanDisk's retail price about three times the price of a 16GB card at present.
Like with the full-size SD card format, the 32GB microSDHC card is expected to be the largest version of the card before the introduction of the XC standard opens up sizes of 64GB and greater.
The 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card is available immediately across Europe and the US, with the rest of the world to follow next month.
