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SanDisk doubled the capacity of microSD cards (formally TransFlash) from 512 MB to 1 GB earlier this year, giving Verizon Wireless first crack at the bulkier memory. The flash storage company has once again doubled the capacity of the smallest of expansion cards, with the introduction of the first 2 GB microSD card. And once again, Verizon customers get exclusive access in the U.S.; for the next 60 days. Elsewhere in the world, a variety of retailers will sell the $100 device.

The card is compatible with many of today's mobile handsets, including LG's new Chocolate music phone for Verizon's V Cast music service. It can hold up 1,000 songs downloaded from V Cast.

microSD's growing popularity is partially due to the high prevalence of digital audio and cameras in modern mobile phones, which have shrunk considerably. As a result, conventional-size cards tend to be too big for many of these smaller feature phones and smartphones.

Owing to microSD's ultra small size (15 x 11 x 1 millimeters) - one-fourth the size of a standard SD card - however, it is not intended to be handled or removed on a frequent basis. As with SanDisk's slightly larger miniSD cards, the company's microSD cards ship with an adapter that enables them to fit into a standard-size SD slot of other devices.

SanDisk's retail line of microSD cards start at 256 MB and go up to the new high of 2 GB. It has also added the new 2 GB capacity size to its OEM line of microSD cards, which start at 64 MB.

One of the originators of the flash memory card, SanDisk also developed the TransFlash format. The SD Card Association approved the tiny TransFlash card for its microSD specification a little over a year ago. Other than a new name, microSD and TransFlash cards are exactly the same.