Credit Card USB Flash Drive: Moser Baer Zap and Wallet Drives Today

A credit card USB flash drive is a pen drive shaped like a bank card, thin enough to slip into your wallet. In April 2012, Moser Baer launched the Zap, billed as India’s first credit card shaped USB flash drive. This article recalls the Zap, what happened to Moser Baer, and what to look for if you want a wallet-sized flash drive today.

Quick answer: The Moser Baer Zap was a 4 GB or 8 GB USB 2.0 flash drive the size of a credit card, sold in India from 2012. Moser Baer later went into insolvency and was sent for liquidation in 2018, so the Zap is long gone. Card-shaped flash drives are still widely sold, but they are usually slower than standard drives, so pick one with USB 3 support and consider encryption if you carry private files.

Moser Baer Zap: the wallet flash drive

How many times have you bought a pen drive that was hard to carry and impossible to fit in your wallet or cardholder? Moser Baer set out to change that with a flash drive the size of a credit card.

As flash drives got smaller, almost everyone wanted one handy for frequently used documents and files. Around that time I had started carrying a keychain flash drive with my car keys, and it was a really handy idea. But keys are often picked up by family members, and a keychain drive can easily fall into the wrong hands, putting private data at risk.

The wallet is the accessory people guard most closely, so a credit card shaped USB flash drive seemed like a great idea. Moser Baer, then a big name in Indian optical discs and flash memory, liked to experiment with drive sizes and shapes.

Zap specifications (2012)

• Capacity: 4 GB and 8 GB
• Weight: about 10 g
• Interface: USB 2.0, plug and play on Windows and Mac
• Warranty: two years

What happened to Moser Baer?

Moser Baer was once famous in India for blank CDs and DVDs and for its very cheap Hindi movie DVDs (see how Moser Baer crashed movie DVD prices). As discs gave way to downloads and streaming, the company ran into deep financial trouble. In 2018 the National Company Law Tribunal sent it for liquidation, as Business Today reported (external site), and its products, including the Zap, disappeared from shops.

Buying a credit card USB flash drive today

Card-style flash drives are now common, often sold as promotional gifts or business cards. Before you buy one, check these points:

• Speed: many card drives are still USB 2.0 and slow. Look for USB 3.0 or later if you copy large files.
• Connector: most use a fold-out USB-A plug. If your laptop or phone only has USB-C, you may prefer a dual-connector drive.
• Durability: thin plastic hinges can wear out; metal cards last longer.
• Security: a wallet can be lost too. For private files, use a hardware-encrypted drive or encrypt the files.

Good places to start on Amazon:

• Credit card USB flash drives: wallet-sized drives in plastic and metal.
• Hardware-encrypted USB flash drives: PIN-protected drives for confidential data.
• Dual USB-C and USB-A flash drives: for newer laptops and phones.

For more fun shapes, see our list of unusual USB flash drives, and learn how to format a USB flash drive before first use.

FAQ

What was the Moser Baer Zap?

A credit card sized USB 2.0 flash drive launched by Moser Baer in India in 2012, in 4 GB and 8 GB versions.

Can I still buy a Moser Baer Zap?

No. Moser Baer was sent for liquidation in 2018 and the Zap is no longer sold.

Are credit card USB drives slower than normal pen drives?

Often, yes. Many use USB 2.0, so check for USB 3.0 support if speed matters.

Is it safe to carry a flash drive in my wallet?

It is convenient, but wallets get lost. Encrypt sensitive files or use a hardware-encrypted drive.

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