In this paper the state of the art of pseudospark switch development is reported. In addition to the replacement of thyratrons for high power applications in TE gas discharge lasers, pseudospark switches have been tested at high repetition rates up to 2 kHz. In order to minimize the erosion rate and to reduce total switch in ductance, multichannel pseudospark switches with various different geometrical configurations have been investigated: a linear, a coaxial, and a radial arrangement of the parallel discharge channels. All three configurations possess distinct advantages in pulsed power technology, i.e. linear systems fit well into striplines. Beyond this pseudospark switches gain increasing importance in high current devices like fast pinches, plasma focii, or powerful modulators, i.e. for magnetoforming. A single-channel switch for hold-off voltage up to 30 kV at peak currents of -- 100 kA has been tested for a damped sinusoidal pulse of 5 /spl mu/sec duration at a repetition rate up to 0.1 Hz, without and with electrode cooling. The expected lifetime for tungsten or related alloys as electrode material is greater 10/sup 5/ shots under these conditions corresponding to a charge transfer of 2 x 10/sup 5/ Cb.