Alvin Cox, Chairman of JC-64.8, announced that the upcoming standard will define SSD capacity using a near-decimal value like that defined for hard disk drives, which will provide easier migration at the system level for drives with common interfaces.

Cox also announced the creation of four application classes for SSDs: Client Mobile, Client Standard, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Performance.

The new standard will define specific requirements for each application class, and will create a SSD Endurance Rating that will provide a standard comparison for SSDs based on application class.

Poised to become a major growth driver for the technology market, SSDs offer high-performance, reliable storage solutions for countless consumer devices.'However, widely adopted industry standards are seen as essential in establishing customer confidence in Solid State Drives as reliable storage solutions within real world environments.

JEDEC has taken the lead in the SSD standards development effort through its JC-64.8 Subcommittee for Solid State Drives, and is working quickly to establish open industry standards that will encompass SSD capacity, form factors and endurance.

"It's clear that comprehensive standards for solid state drives must be set in order to ensure complete confidence in the quality and reliability of SSDs," said Mian Quddus, Chairman of the JEDEC Board of Directors.'"JEDEC's focus on defining capacity, workload and endurance in the upcoming specifications will help ensure the promise of SSDs as a fast-growing, rugged and versatile storage solution can be fully realized."

All JEDEC standards are available online, at no charge. For more information, visit www.jedec.org.