Sony Begins Shipping “Byte-Sized” USB Drive

Micro Vault Tiny Offers Up to 4GB Storage Capacity

PARK RIDGE, N.J., July 10, 2006 – Sony Electronics has unveiled the “byte-sized” Micro Vault® Tiny drive. Measuring roughly ½ inch wide and just over one inch in length, the stylish unit comes in striking designs and colors with storage capacities ranging from 256MB to 4GB.

"In line with our Micro Vault concept, the Tiny is designed to deliver a user-friendly storage solution that appeals to fashion-forward consumers ranging from trend-setting students to style-conscious professionals,” said Mike Lucas, director of marketing for Sony Electronics’ Media and Application Solutions Division.

About the thickness of a quarter, Tiny differs from its peers on several fronts, the most obvious being its tiny size, and five color-coded capacities – 256MB (orange), 512MB (violet), 1GB (blue), 2GB (green) and 4GB (purple) – which provide flexible data storage options. Tiny comes packaged in a versatile clip-on carry case that can be worn as an accessory, easily attaching to a cell phone case, purse strap, key chain, or clipped onto a notebook cover or belt.

Tiny is preloaded with Virtual Expander, which expands the capacity to virtually store up to three times as much data by automatically compressing and decompressing files.

According to Lucas, the industry has come a long way from the once bulky, utilitarian drives to Sony’s small wonder. Initially seen as a device craved by early adopters, USB portable storage drives have become as mainstream as digital cameras and MP3 players – due in part to their ease of use and universal application.

Sony has been an innovator of USB drives since their inception, launching the Micro Vault line in 2001, with drives about the length of an index finger, and storage capacities maxing out at 64MB. Since then, the company has developed more compact drives with greater storage capacities, adding style along the way.

Sony’s latest Micro Vault family also features the Classic, Turbo, Fingerprint Access and Micro Vault PRO lines – all offering a wide range of capacities and functional benefits.

The Micro Vault Tiny is now shipping in capacities of 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB, with a 4GB model planned for release later this year. The drives suggested retail prices are on par with the Classic line, ranging from $29.99 to $199.99.