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Most PDAs that have SDIO enabled Secure Digital slots, which are used for memory and peripheral expansion, only have one such slot. Therefore, they often have to choose between adding a new peripheral or using a memory card. And switching between the two can be a pain

One solution is combine two functions into a single expansion card. And that is what SanDisk does with its new 256 MB + Wi-Fi SD Combination card, the first SD card to include both memory and WLAN (802.11b) communications. This combination has been available for a while in CompactFlash cards.

SandDisk said it made security a priority with the new card. It includes WEP, 802.1x, PSK and WPA. In addition, it uses Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) Wireless LAN technology to provide bandwidths of up to 11Mbps and ranges of up to 800 feet depending on the environment.

Wi-Fi is a notorious power hog. The company claims, however, to have designed the device to minimize battery drain. The 256MB+Wi-Fi SD Combination card should be available within a month or so for $129. The new card is compatible with handheld devices that feature an SDIO-enabled slot and use Microsoft Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2003 or Windows Mobile 2003 operating systems.

Unfortunately Palm OS device users will have to wait for their Wi-Fi/ memory combination SD card, as they did for standard Wi-Fi only SD cards.