REDMOND, Wash. (AP) -- Flash memory product maker SanDisk Corp. and Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, said Friday they will develop jointly a platform of flash memory cards and USB flash drives.

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Under the agreement, SanDisk will develop the hardware capabilities, and Microsoft will develop the software for the platform. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The new cards and drives are expected to make it easier for users to carry personal settings from their computers -- including personal files, applications or data -- on a portable USB drive of flash memory card.

Users will be able to plug a card into a reader, or a drive into a USB port, on a Windows Vista-based computer, so they can access their personal files, but can keep the information on the portable devices encrypted and protected.

The products are expected to be available in the second half of 2008.

Shares of SanDisk were trading at $44.90 in the premarket session, up 80 cents, from Thursday's closing price of $44.10.