U3 - Yenra

U3 is a new hardware and software platform that will expand the USB flash drive market beyond storage.

U3 is backed by the two market leaders in USB flash drives, M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers and SanDisk, which made a companion announcement at the electronics show. The two founding companies said that U3 will expand the market for USB flash drives beyond storage by creating a new platform to attract a community of independent software developers (ISVs) to make applications for U3 devices. For the first time, users will be able to move more than just data. With U3, users will be able to choose from a wide range of applications that can be easily carried, stored and launched from any U3-compatible USB flash drive to any PC wherever they go. U3 technology will enable users to carry not only stored files, but entire computer applications on a tamperproof USB flash drive and launch such applications from any computer.

"U3 is committed to increasing the value and expanding the market for USB flash drives by uniting the industry around best-of-breed technology - attracting the best possible roster of developers to create novel and useful applications for one of the fastest-growing consumer electronic devices in history," said Kate Purmal of U3.

U3 aims to expand the USB flash drive market beyond storage by creating a new standard platform; opening up a large untapped market for software developers; attracting a community of independent software vendors to create U3 applications; and providing developers with development tools and ongoing technical and marketing support including a Web-based distribution channel where users can easily purchase and download U3-compatible applications.

"U3 has great potential to expand and simplify the way our customers take their Corel projects from computer to computer," said Jacqueline Maartense, Corel's executive vice president worldwide of product marketing. "Today, we are evaluating how we might be able to take advantage of this technology and which products would be most suitable for this type of mobility."

"ICQ supports the U3 initiative because it gives people the power to carry, store and launch essential applications by simply plugging a U3 device into any PC," said Ronen Arad, director of product management for ICQ. "The intelligent USB is the perfect way to provide convenience and security for users who want non-stop, portable access, and we at ICQ are extremely pleased to be the first to develop a compatible instant messaging client."

"McAfee is proud to support anti-virus and firewall protection for the U3 platform," said Todd Gebhart, sales senior vice president of McAfee's global service provider team. "Since U3 devices will enable applications to be portable, the device becomes similar to a remote PC. McAfee's products will provide the features that will ensure U3 devices remain secure and virus-free."

"U3 is a platform that will encourage the use of USB flash drives for people who need to be able to discretely and efficiently carry their health information with them at all times," said Paul Kortschak, president and CEO of MedicAlert Foundation. "This means that a MedicAlert member can carry a complete medical history wherever they go to improve quality of care and to perhaps enable receiving a life-saving treatment in case of an emergency. Furthermore, this technology enhances our strategy and commitment for supporting health information technology initiatives to address medical errors and high healthcare costs related to the lack of available health information at the point of care."

"New devices that provide 'anywhere/anytime' access increase the productivity and enjoyment of users," said Paul Weinstein, vice president business development, Check Point Software Technologies. "By leveraging U3 technology, Check Point can allow enterprises to manage and control secure usage of USB devices, enabling productivity gains without compromising corporate security standards."

The goal of U3 is to transform the USB flash drive market from simple storage devices into exciting new consumer products that people can use to carry, store and launch their own applications and data on any PC wherever they go. Announced at the Consumer Electronics Show 2005, U3 will create an expanded market of innovative applications for one of the fastest-growing consumer electronics devices in history. Analysts predict that more than 70 million USB drives will sell in 2005. M-Systems and SanDisk are innovators and leaders of the USB flash drive market, and will provide substantial related IP and technical expertise to the U3 platform.

Consumers have quickly embraced USB flash drive technology for its ability to transport large amounts of data from one PC to another. Because of its success, new vendor-specific solutions have emerged in an attempt to use USB flash drives for more than storage. However, these efforts have been hampered by a lack of the standardization required to ensure multi-vendor interoperability and compatibility. There are no standards today that enable an independent software developer to create applications that are portable and secure for all USB flash drives. However, consumers who buy U3-compliant USB Flash drives will have the ability to take U3-compliant applications with them wherever they go.

The U3 platform includes a hardware specification as well as Application Program Interfaces (APIs) for software developers to access the unique mobility and security features available on these devices. U3 drives will contain a Launch Pad desktop interface to simplify viewing, launching, downloading and managing all U3-compliant applications stored on the devices.

U3's suite of software development tools will make it possible for software applications to store and retrieve data on a U3 device, enhance security by accessing the U3 platform standard features, and mobilize applications so they can be carried and launched on any computer. With the number of portable applications expected to be available, USB flash drive vendors may bundle applications that will appeal to specific market segments, such as healthcare applications, gaming, business productivity and more.

"U3 creates a new, open, standard platform that will take USB flash drives from the simple storage devices they are today to portable devices that are empowered by rich applications, harnessing the creative energy of a multitude of independent developers," said Eli Harari, SanDisk's president and chief executive officer. "This platform will dramatically increase the value of USB drives to consumers and developers alike. SanDisk and M-Systems intend to strongly support and promote the U3 platform creating what we hope will become the U3 Economy."

Building a community of software developers will be a top priority for U3. U3's goal is to attract software developers by providing access to a large and growing base of U3-enabled devices. U3 currently plans to provide developers ongoing support including development tools, business and technical support and a Web-based distribution channel where millions of users will be able to easily purchase and download U3-compatible applications.

"U3 will unite the industry around best-of-breed technology to increase overall value to the consumer and open a whole new world of opportunities for software developers," said Dov Moran of M-Systems. "U3 plans to build a robust infrastructure for consumers, developers and manufacturers of USB flash drives. The vision of U3 is to expand the USB Flash Drive from its current role as a simple, convenient storage device into a new consumer product that people can use to carry, store and launch their own applications on any PC."

U3 plans to offer software developers an organization dedicated to developing and maintaining the U3 specifications, plus software development kits and other tools to speed time to market, minimize investment, and provide a robust and standard platform.

"Software applications for flash drives have been largely developed for proprietary devices with limited market opportunity," said Joe Unsworth analyst at Gartner Inc. "Without a standard, developers were lacking key features to enable mobility and robust security, lacking multi-vendor interoperability, and lacking open, standards-based development tools. Creating a unified standard for USB drive application development will fuel innovation and foster cross-vendor compatibility."

ICQ today announced its support for the next-generation USB flash drives developed under the new U3 platform standard. U3 compatible USB technology, developed by M-Systems and SanDisk, is a rapidly evolving standard that will enable users to carry not only stored files, but entire software applications on tamperproof USB flash drives. With U3 technology, users will be able to carry, store and launch digital programs and services on any PC.

Today, ICQ also announced that it is developing the industry's first U3-compatible instant messaging software. This portable version of the ICQ service, which will be available with the release of U3 compatible drives, will be delivered in English. It will offer presence detection and real-time instant messaging functionality as well as the valuable communications tools and customization features that ICQ users enjoy.

U3 technology and the U3 platform standard will expand the USB flash drive technology market beyond storage by creating a new and easy way for end users to carry and access computer applications. The emerging standard is already attracting industry-wide attention as well as a community of independent developers who are poised to adapt existing applications, and create new ones, for U3-enabled devices.

Corel joined other leading software vendors to announce its support of the new U3 standard platform based on the USB Flash Drive storage device.

The U3 platform will provide an opportunity for many PC-based applications to now be taken on the road. The software applications that will be developed by leading independent software vendors will work on any U3-compatible USB devices. U3 will expand the USB Flash Drive technology market beyond storage by creating a new platform that will attract a community of independent developers to make applications for U3 devices.

Check Point Software Technologies also supports the U3 vision for the USB flash drive platform for application development.

U3 will expand the USB Flash Drive technology market beyond storage by creating a new platform to attract a community of independent developers to make applications for U3 devices. For the first time, users will be able to move more than just data.

With U3, users will be able to choose from a wide range of applications that can be easily carried, stored and launched from any U3-compatible to any PC wherever they go.

"New devices that provide anywhere/anytime access increase the productivity and enjoyment of users," said Paul Weinstein of Check Point Software Technologies. "By leveraging U3 technology, Check Point can allow enterprises to manage and control secure usage of USB devices, enabling productivity gains without compromising corporate security standards."

McAfee today announced that it supports U3, a new hardware and software platform that will expand the USB flash drive market beyond storage. Users utilizing the new platform will have a security-ready platform that can be supported by McAfee VirusScan and McAfee Personal Firewall Plus protection, helping to ensure that the user's applications, data, and identity are secure from malicious threats.

U3 will provide McAfee users with a new platform that can be secured from the transfer of malicious threats, such as the recent Mydoom, Netsky and Bagle worms.

"McAfee Inc. is a key developer to have on board as a supporter of the U3 objectives," said Kate Purmal. "Until U3, there hasn't been a platform by which software developers could apply their value to these highly popular storage products. Now they can ensure that this new platform will be secured by a leading security company such as McAfee."

McAfee system protection solutions secure all layers of personal desktop and server systems and applications. McAfee sees the potential popularity of the USB flash drives as a major opportunity to serve both consumers and enterprises with a way to protect the data that is copied to the drives. McAfee believes that U3 will help expand the USB Flash Drive technology market beyond storage -- creating a new platform to attract a community of independent developers to make applications for U3 devices. With McAfee system protection, these users can ensure they have the most comprehensive protection available.

"McAfee is proud to support anti-virus and personal firewall protection for the U3 platform," said Todd Gebhart, senior vice president of sales for the global service provider team at McAfee Inc. "Since U3 devices will enable applications to be portable, the device becomes similar to a remote PC. McAfee's products will provide the features that will ensure U3 devices remain secure and virus-free."

The MedicAlert Foundation International, one of the world's largest nonprofit organizations devoted to protecting and saving lives, today announced at the CES Show that it endorses the goals that the U3 platform standard has established for USB flash drives.

The U3 platform provides an opportunity for an individual's personal medical information to be taken anywhere on a tiny USB flash drive without compromising privacy, and for this information to be securely communicated using the latest encryption technologies. The MedicAlert healthcare application is one example of software applications that could easily be converted to be U3 compatible to provide additional capabilities and will work on any U3 device.

"U3 is pleased to announce its Premier membership status in the new Microsoft VSIP program," said Kate Purmal. "U3 is working with Microsoft and as a first step is integrating U3 tools with Visual Studio to make it extensible for developers to create applications that can use U3 features."

"Microsoft is pleased that U3 has joined the VSIP program, as it will enable a new class of application scenarios through Visual Studio 2005," said Nick Abbott, group manager in the .NET Developer Product Management Group at Microsoft Corp. "As developers are looking to be more productive and efficient, U3 will enable them to accelerate the development of USB Flash Drive-compatible applications."

U3 will enable the industry to deliver a new class of USB Drives that can be easily integrated into enterprise and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) application scenarios. The services that U3 devices will provide are planned to be exposed through easy interfaces to any developer that uses Visual Studio and to any application that targets the Microsoft .NET Framework.

"The U3 strategy is about enabling new application scenarios with U3-compatible USB Drives," continued Purmal. "We understand that users need to be more productive with Windows and we are committed to providing U3-compatible USB Flash Drives that can be seamlessly integrated into applications implemented with Visual Studio. Our goal is to deliver the first U3 SDK with the launch of Visual Studio 2005 and to also support Visual Studio .NET 2003 at that time."

The first U3-compliant devices are expected to ship by this summer.

U3 LLC plans to expand USB drive technology beyond storage.