Phase-change chalcogenide alloys GeSbTe and AgInSbTe have been successfully used in rewritable optical discs， and researches in the phase change memory(PCM) device as substitute for flash memory is becoming a hotspot in the field of information storage. Also， new applications of phase-change materials have been developed in the related areas. Latest experimental and theoretical results on the mechanism and improvement in the optical / electrical storage properties， as well as some new applications of phase-change materials are reviewed， and their development trend is prospected.