Flash Drive Study: A Second Growth Wave Is BrewingFlash Drive Study: A Second Growth Wave Is Brewing

U.S. computer users are expected to propel a major second wave of USB flash drive (UFD) growth, according to a study released Wednesday by market research firm Harris Interactive.

Harris surveyed 1,000 U.S. computer users between the ages of 14 and 64 and found that 30 percent of them already own UFDs and another 13 percent are intending to purchase a UFD in the near future.

Spurring the expected next wave of flash drive purchases are new features including operating system compatibility and beefed-up security functions.

The survey was sponsored by msystems, whose vice president of marketing and business development for the firm's retail and enterprise division Daniel Schreiber said the survey demonstrates that users want features more advanced that simple storage applications. Schreiber noted that the U3 platform, which enables users to plug into Windows 2000 or XP PC, will help drive a new wave UFD purchases.