Sony has today announced that three new SD memory card series will be coming soon.

First up there is an entry-level Essential Series, a budget focused Experience Series and the speed-oriented Expert Series. All the Sony memory cards will be shipped as of January 2011 in a new eco-friendly package which hopefully does not require a chainsaw to open and a five year warranty.

The Essential Series will be made up of Class 4-rated 2GB, 4GB and 8GB models while the Experience Series will have Class 4-rated 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB card capable of transfer speeds topping 15 MB/s.

The Expert Series will have a 8GB, 16GB and 32GB models with Class 10 ratings that deliver speeds of 22 MB/s. No word on pricing yet.

Sony also tells us that it will release two bits of free software with the Experience and Expert series cards. There is the "File Rescue HD" and "x-Pict Story", which will be offered for free to buyers of the Experience and Expert series memory cards.

The File Rescue HD software will help you retrieve accidentally deleted or damaged files. The x-Pict Story creates presentations using photos and videos that you will capture.