Based on NAND flash memory with USB interfaces, the Intel Z-U130 Value Solid State Drive is aimed for a wide variety of computing and embedded platforms.

The product comes in 1-Gigabyte (GB), 2-GB, 4-GB and 8-GB densities. With read speeds of 28-megabytes (MB) per second and write speeds of 20-MB per second, this solid state drive is a faster storage alternative, according to Intel.

The product can be integrated into original design manufacturers' designs because of its USB 2.0 and 1.1 compliant interfaces, 2x5 USB connector and standard single-level cell NAND in thin small outline package (TSOP) devices. The company is also considering next-generation products that could incorporate cost-effective multi-level cell (MLC) technology.

"Solid state drive technology offers many benefits over traditional hard disk drives including improved performance and reliability,'' said Randy Wilhelm, vice president and general manager of Intel's NAND Products Group, in a statement.