Panasonic's smartSD adds RFID to the mix

We're suckers for any kind of convergence, no matter how inane or banal, but we think Panasonic is actually on to something with smartSD, their new technology which combines those SD memory cards we all know and love with those RFID tags that tinfoil hat types loathe and fear. There are already a few cellphones with built-in RFID chips already out there (Nokia offers an RFID kit for their 5140 handset), but the big deal here is that with smartSD you could conceivably add RFID to almost anything with an SD or miniSD memory card slot like a cellphone, PDA, laptop, digital camera, personal video player, MP3 player, etc.

[TheZodiac @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Im assuming you need this slot to be SDIO compatible :) Maybe not?

[MS Mobiles @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

it's brilliant and the slot doesn't need to be SDIO compatible (you can just write ID to memory - like in non-SDIO SD-format cameras).

I am big fan of RFID but is this smartSD just a RFID label or a RFID reader? if it is reader it is great!!

[Craig @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Why would I want to add an RFID tag to a piece of portable electronics I already own? Is it like "Honey, where's my camera? What's that...just sweep the house with the handheld RFID scanner to see if it turns up? Hmmm...OK." Not.

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I'd love to be able to keep my RFID tags with my phone, so I don't have to carry around my wallet cards/keychain dongles to get in secure doors.

[Begonia @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Is something new about this cards? Are they available?

Do you know what kind of RFID technology do they use?

Thanks!