SanDiskannounced Tuesday it has acquired MDRM, an Israeli-based company that first created electronic versions of student textbooks that weigh less than one ounce.
MDRM, which will now be called SanDisk Secure Content Solutions, is a developer of technology for secure content distribution through flash memory cards. The acquisition bolsters SanDisk’s claim as the world’s largest supplier of flash data storage card products.
The deal was completed on Dec. 2 but the terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.
Both companies have worked together closely in the past, most notably teaming up to adapt the SanDisk flash controller to create a version of SanDisk’s Cruzer USB flash drive. The device is capable of delivering content in a protected and secure environment, according to the company.
“We are excited about MDRM’s vision and impressed with the powerful technology that they have developed which, we believe, is readily adaptable to a broad range of applications in the distribution of protected content through our cards and flash drives,” Yoram Cedar SanDisk’s, SanDisk senior vice president of engineering and emerging market business development, said in a written statement.
The BookLocker device was the first application to spring from shared technology between the two companies. The lightweight electronic version of textbooks lets students carry a hefty amount of information around without lugging cumbersome text, the company claims. BookLocker technology also allows textbook publishers secure copyrighted material.
Chief Technical Officer of MDRM Gidi Elazar said BookLocker, which was developed over the past two years, was “applicable for content far beyond textbooks, and I look forward to working at SanDisk to create the next level of such value-added flash devices.”
“This will enable us to accelerate the penetration of our technology for content distribution in the PC and mobile worlds,” MDRM Chief Executive Officer Dan Harkabi said of the acquisition in the statement.