SD ASSOCIATION ADDS HIGHER APP PERFORMANCE CLASS
AND LOW VOLTAGE SIGNALING TO EXPAND SUPPORT FOR MOBILE DEVICES
A2 features ramp up app performance on cards, give consumers more choices
while Low Voltage Signaling meets latest low-power mobile chipset requirements
BARCELONA – Mobile World Congress Booth CS168— February 27, 2017 — SDSpecification 6.0 expands support for mobile devices with Application Performance
Class 2 (A2) more than doubling random read and write speeds guaranteed in the entrylevel App Performance Class 1 (A1), and new low voltage signaling (LVS) SD memory
cards availability. These new SD memory cards maintain full backwards compatibility,
an incredible technical feat that maintains consumer and manufacturer value with thebillions-strong SD install base.
The SDA introduced A1, the basic App Performance Class in November 2016 as its firstand basic class. The new A2 is directed at special cases where hosts require evenhigher levels of performance. Introduced in SD 6.0 specification, A2 is the next classlevel and provides more flexibility in the market for cost-performance optimization basedon the product, the application of the product or market needs. The newly introduced
functions of Command Queuing, Cache, and Self-Maintenance are SD protocol
functions that enable higher performance levels. A video is available to learn more
about both App Performance Classes.
A2 memory cards deliver app-running performance by meeting or exceeding thefollowing levels under specified conditions:

Random Read Input-Output access Per Second (IOPS) of 4000
Write IOPS of 2000
Sustained Sequential performance of 10MB/s

The latest SD specification also allows SD host product manufacturers to offer devices
that only support 1.8V Low Voltage Signaling (LVS), which complements the latest chip
designs for higher performance and less power consumption. LVS SD memory cards
maintain the SDA’s commitment to backwards compatibility with legacy host products.
All memory cards supporting A2 will also support the new LVS signaling.
“The new features in SD 6.0 add significant performance improvements over previous
versions of SD memory cards, taking memory card functionality to a new level,” said
Stuart Robinson, director at Strategy Analytics. “The new SD standard is perfect forusers with limited memory on their device, allowing them to run apps directly from amicroSD memory card. SD cards are already used in billions of devices around theworld and this latest initiative will help to maintain SD as the preferred choice formemory cards.”
Mobile phones and mobile computing users can choose the best SD memory card torun applications on their mobile devices by matching the App Performance Class andLVS symbol on the memory card with the corresponding symbol on the device or device
packaging.
“The SDA pairs innovation and practicality, ensuring the market has what it wants andneeds and consumers aren’t left frustrated with investments in products with plannedobsolescence,” said Brian Kumagai, SDA president. “Interoperability and compatibility
have been fundamental to our innovation path, including with the high-performing A2and LVS memory cards.”
The App Performance Class symbol provides product manufacturers with a way tocommunicate app-running requirements before users buy an SD memory card.

New features supporting A2 performance
The following features are required on all products that indicate A2 performance:
 Command Queueo Contributes mainly to random read performanceo Multiple tasks can be handled at one time with arbitrary ordero New tasks can be assigned during data transmission
 Cache functiono Contributes mainly to random write performanceo Card may use higher speed volatile memory to cache the host data during
memory card access operation
 Self-Maintenanceo Contributes to better memory access performanceo Allows internal background data managemento May be initiated either by card or by the host based on the card’s internalneeds
Low Voltage Signaling
A low voltage symbol identifies LV Interface supported SD products for users. An LVS
host will bear the LV symbol somewhere on the product, package or manual. LVS

device users need to use a corresponding SD memory card with an LV symbol for theirLV-marked device. On the other hand, an LVS card is usable by any host, including
hosts that do not carry the LV symbol.
The LVS card is fully backwards compatible and usable by both conventional
hosts using 3.3V signaling or by LVS hosts that operate only with 1.8V signalingAn LVS host may operate only with the new LVS cards and conventional UHS-IIcards are supported if a UHS-II mode is available by the host device

App Performance Class 2 card example:

Low Voltage Signaling card example:

A new white paper, “Mobile Device Innovations: Application Performance Class
Expansion and New Low Voltage Signaling for SD Memory Cards,” provides moredetails on the new features, capabilities and market requirements. More information isavailable on our website.
Find the SD Association at Mobile World Congress February 27 through March 2, 2017,
in Booth CS168 in Barcelona.
SD AssociationThe SD Association is a global ecosystem of nearly 900 technology companies chargedwith setting interoperable SD standards. The Association encourages the developmentof consumer electronic, wireless communication, digital imaging and networking
products that utilize market-leading SD technology. The SD standard is the number one
choice for consumers and has earned more than 80 percent of the memory card market
with its reliable interoperability and its easy-to-use format. Today, smart phones, tablets,
Blu-ray players, HDTVs, audio players, automotive multimedia systems, handheld PCs,
digital cameras and digital video cameras feature SD interoperability. For more
information about SDA or to join, please visit the Association’s website,
https://www.sdcard.org.
SD Logos are trademarks licensed by SD-3C LLC.
###Media Contact
Alisa Pfeil
SD Association
1.925.275.6670
media@sdcard.org