　Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Has announced a new MP3 audio player that, the company says, is the world's smallest to date. The same size as a credit card and 17mm thick, the "yepp" can store up to 40 minutes of MP3 (MPEG layer 3) format audio.

　The device is targeted at the youth market and features the ability to download MP3 files from host computers and the Internet. It's 40 megabyte memory is large enough for around 10 pop songs and the device can also store WAV format audio, graphic image and text files.

　The memory is divided between 24 megabytes of built-in flash memory and a 16 megabyte removable Smart Media card. As larger versions of the Smart Media card are developed, users will be able to store more songs on each player.

　The yepp is available in two models. The basic model offers MP3 and WAV format playback while the advanced model can record external audio and FM radio. Both are supplied with a base unit that incorporates a battery charger and interface to a personal computer. Samsung said it has also developed a recording station that allows the unit to directly record audio from a CD player or other device without the need for a PC.

　Current plans call for commercialization of the device in the Korean market in February 1999, with Asian and American sales scheduled to start shortly after. Samsung said it expects domestic sales to reach 20 billion won (US$15.16 million) in 1999 and international sales to reach $30 million.

　"As yepp has a smart card and a flash memory as the main memory component, it makes it highly competitive in terms of price, speed and function expandability," said Byung-Moon Suh, managing director of Samsung Electronics' Media Service Division, in a statement.

Exchange rate: $1 = 1319 won

Reported by Newsbytes News Network, http://www.newsbytes.com