Maxell announces double-layer DVD+R availability

June 29, 2005 08:00 AM US Eastern Timezone

Maxell Announces Double-Layer DVD+R Media; Boosts Per-Disc Capacity to 8.5 GB on a Single Side for Extremely Dense Data Storage in the Same Form Factor as Conventional DVD

FAIR LAWN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–June 29, 2005–Maxell Corporation of America, the technology and marketing leader in advanced recordable media products, is now shipping double-layer DVD+R media, delivering an 80 percent capacity boost for a broad range of data storage, multimedia and video applications. This latest recordable media breakthrough from Maxell increases per-disc capacity on a single side to 8.5 gigabytes, supporting high-capacity backup applications. One double-layer DVD+R will hold up to four hours of DVD-quality video, 16 hours of VHS-quality video, approximately one hour of high-definition video, or more than four million pages of text – the equivalent of more than 13,000 300-page books.

Consistent with Maxell’s technology roadmap of extremely high-density optical media that will reach 100 gigabytes or more per disc in the next three years, double-layer DVD+R media is currently the largest capacity compatible DVD format available for data backup and archival storage. The full 8.5 GB capacity of the disc is contained on a single side, eliminating the need to flip the disc over during recording or playback. Double-layer recording technology – designated DVD+R 9 – is based on double-layer technology that has been used for many years in DVD video applications. The media uses the same proven and reliable dye-based optical-recording technology as single-layer media but incorporates new design improvements required to facilitate recording and playback from two layers.

“This dual-layer evolution offers additional storage capacity within the same convenient, portable physical form as traditional DVD, again demonstrating the limitless possibility and versatility of the DVD format,” said Steven Pofcher, Senior Marketing Manager at Maxell. “Maxell will continue in its commitment to the DVD market with the widest range of recordable DVD media formats.”

The additional capacity provided by double-layer DVD is extremely attractive for compliance with federal regulations, such as HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley, which require company records to be stored in a write-once, read many (WORM) format. Once recorded, a DVD+R cannot be altered or changed, satisfying the most stringent record retention policies.

The new double-layer DVD+R media is already supported by a new generation of double-layer drives from several leading hardware vendors. Many of the new drives are multi-format models that can record not only on double-layer media, but also with single-layer DVD write-once and rewritable media. After a disc has been recorded, it can be played back on any DVD double-layer drive, DVD-ROM or DVD video player.

Maxell’s double-layer DVD+R media will be followed by a double-layer DVD-R product scheduled for availability in the third quarter of 2005. Rewritable double-layer media products – both DVD+RW and DVD-RW – are planned for availability during the second half of 2005.

About Maxell

A technology and marketing leader in advanced recordable media products since 1969, Maxell Corporation of America, is a full-line manufacturer of digital and analog media products for the data storage, consumer and broadcast markets. Maxell’s Data Storage Group serves the needs of customers from the desktop to the data center with one of the industry’s broadest lines of premium digital recording media. Offerings include DLTtape, Super DLTtape, LTO and DDS data cartridges. Maxell is a full line supplier of recordable DVD media, including DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-RAM, as well as CD-R/RW media. All Maxell data storage products are backed by a lifetime limited warranty and 24-hour toll-free technical support. Additional information on Maxell can be found on the company’s web site: www.maxell-data.com.

LTO and Ultrium are trademarks of HP, IBM and Certance LLC in the US, other countries or both. DLTtape and Super DLTtape are trademarks or registered trademarks of Quantum Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks in this document are the properties of their respective owners.