SanDisk plans to launch a 1GB microSD card later this year SanDisk’s TransFlash memory card format has been adopted by the SD Card Association as microSD, the group said Wednesday.The card, which is already used in some mobile telephones, is similar in appearance to a cell phone SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card. It measures 15 millimeters by 11 millimeters by 1 millimeter, which makes its volume about 165 square millimeters. That’s three and a half times smaller than miniSD, which until now was the smallest SD format card, and about one-tenth the volume of the SD card.TransFlash and microSD are compatible with each other and microSD can be used in SD card slots with the use of an adapter. SanDisk has promoted TransFlash to date as a memory expansion format for mobile phones. Because of its small size, it’s better suited to mobile handsets than are larger cards, the company said. TransFlash slots can already be found in phones from Motorola, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics Co., Kyocera, and Sagem Communication, according to a SanDisk statement.To coincide with the format’s adoption by the SD Card Association, SanDisk said Wednesday it is now shipping a 256MB capacity microSD card. The new card will cost $45 and will be followed in August by a 512MB card, which will cost $70, SanDisk said.SanDisk also said it plans to launch a 1GB card this year and a 2GB card next year. Technology Industry