CEBIT - Memory the size of a fingernail

Sony Ericsson introduced the Memory Stick Micro or M2 at CeBIT. It measures 0.6 by 0.5 inch and is 0.05 inch thick (or should that be thin?).

The storage will be used in mobile phones and other mobile devices where every inch of space is important. Sony isn't sure when it will be introduced in the U.S.

The first Sony product that will use the M2 chip is the Sony Ericsson M600i mobile phone, which is aimed at the business user.

It incorporates a mail client and has an expanded keyboard to make it easier to send and receive e-mails. The M600i supports the main e-mail push services like RIM's BlackBerry and works with GSM as well as the fast mobile phone 3G technology.

The M600i can also play music and videos and has a QVGA display (320 by 240 resolution). The chip that comes with the M600i stores only 64MB; however, the maximum capacity for M2 chips can be up to 1GB. The chips support the Magicgate copywrite technology. You'd have to use an adapter to read and/or write to the M2 chips with the usual multi card readers.

I used the M600i phone with the M2 chip at the SonyEricsson booth. You can insert and remove the chip from the outside without needing to remove the battery. But it's very tricky--you have to have small fingers or long fingernails to get the little M2 out of its slot. And be careful not to drop it on the floor--you might never find it...