Researchers at Hewlett-Packard Co. have developed a tiny wireless data chip that can store up to 100 pages of text, the company said on Sunday.

Developed over four years by HP Labs' campus in Bristol, England, the chip could ultimately be used in a variety of consumer and commercial applications.

The new chipis about the size of the head of a match and could potentially store a patient's medical chart on a hospital band, said Howard Taub, associate director at HP Labs.

Consumers could store audio commentary, music or short videos on such a chip, affixed to a printed digital photograph. Devices to read and write data on the chip would then eventually be embedded in cell phones, handheld computers, personal computers, printers, or small standalone readers.

HP plans to take the technology to industry standards bodies in hopes of it being welcomed across the technology sector, Taub said. While broad commercial applications are at least two years away,the companywill license the technology to partners, customers and rivals well before that.

"Licensing will almost definitely be part of it," Taub said of HP's plans to cash in on its investment in the technology, which was developed by the "Memory Spot" team within HP Labs.

Source: Xinhuanet