Lexar to put Wi-Fi on a memory card

The memory chip manufacturer will use technology from Eye-Fi to add network connectivity for users of its own memory cards.

With wireless built onto the card, users will be able to send pictures directly from the camera to the computer. While Eye-Fi already has released its own card based on its technology, it sees Lexar as a way for Eye-Fi to gain mass appeal.

The original card by the Mountain View, Calif. company contained 2 GB of memory. It works in any SD-card capable camera, as the software to download the photos from the card is hosted on the PC.

Users will have the option of uploading to the computer, to the Web, or to both. With the Web option, the Eye-Fi manager software handles the entry of passwords and the uploading process.

Currently the software supports uploading to Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, and Picasa, as well as to several photo printing sites.

"We believe our customers will enjoy the benefits of being able to tap into the benefits of Eye-Fi's service -- including direct uploads of photos to many different online destinations and users' home computers," Lexar marketing chief Brad Anderson said.