Mitsubishi Kagaku Media, known to most of the world as "Verbatim," will release two "Ultra Density Optical" (UDO) disc products o­n the 28th. The discs are 5" across, and are stored in cartridges much like Magneto-Optical.

UDO currently has a capacity of 30GB, but development for 60GB and 120GB capacity discs is planned.

Update: Oh, it turns out we already talked about this, about a year ago. Oops.

Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Corporation will release two 30GB UDO (Ultra Density Optical) Disc products o­n December 28th.

The recordable-type "MUDW030G" and rewriteable "MUDR030G" will be made available. The price is set at Open Price, but estimates indicate they should cost around 10,000 - 15,000 yen.

UDO discs are a media using a blue laser developed by England's Plasmon in the optical read equipment, and use cartridges like 5" MO discs. Since December of 2003, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media has entered a license agreement with Plasmon, and begun preparations for commencement of commercial production. For the company, these products represent the first domestic commercialization.

Drives supporting UDO, apart from Jukebox products, are already being shipped domestically by Japan Hewlett-Packard.

Mitsubishi Kagaku Media plans for development of products with 60GB and 120GB capacities depending o­n the demands of users.



Inspired by:
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/1227/mcm.htm

News Release:
http://www.mcmedia.co.jp/japanese/news/press/0039.html