Sony DVD-RAM. They can't get rid of the Betamax thing............
Sony, Philips, H-P seek DVD-RAM format approval
Reuters Story - August 12, 1997 21:13
TOKYO, Aug 13 (Reuter) - Sony Corp said on
Wednesday that it, Philips Electronics NV and
Hewlett-Packard Co have asked European computer makers
for approval of a format for DVD-RAMs (digital video disc
random-access memories).
The three companies applied to the European Computer
Manufacturers Association for approval of their format in May, a
spokesman for Sony said.
He said he did not know when the European body would give
its approval, but it would probably take six months to a year.
Sony and Philips are members of a group of 10 major
electronic equipment makers, including Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co Ltd and Hitachi Ltd , that agreed
on a common DVD-RAM format in April.
The Sony spokesman said the company will remain as a member
of the group but does not plan to introduce products based on
the common format.
He also said the three companies' DVD-RAM format is more
compatible with DVD-ROMs (read-only memories), which are already
used in personal computers, than the common format.
The three companies' format has a data storage capacity of
3.0 gigabits, compared with the common format's 2.6 gigabits.
The three companies applied to the European Computer
Manufacturers Association for approval of their format in May, a
spokesman for Sony said.
He said he did not know when the European body would give
its approval, but it would probably take six months to a year.
The three companies are members of a group of 10 major
electronic equipment makers, including Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co Ltd and Hitachi Ltd , that agreed
on a common DVD-RAM format in April.
The Sony spokesman said the company will remain as a member
of the group but does not plan to introduce products based on
the common format.
He also said the three companies' DVD-RAM format is more
compatible with DVD-ROMs (read-only memories), which are already
used in personal computers, than the common format.
The three companies' format has a data storage capacity of
3.0 gigabits, compared with the common format's 2.6 gigabits.
The move by the three companies effectively creates two
separate standards for the technology -- one developed by the
Sony-Philips-Hewlett group, and the existing common format.
A spokesman for Matsushita said: "We are surprised. But as
we do not know the details yet, we cannot comment further."
Spokesmen for Mitsubishi Electric Corp , Victor Co
of Japan , Toshiba Corp , Pioneer Electronic
Corp and Hitachi, which are also members of the group
of 10 companies, were unavailable for comment due to summer
holidays. The other two companies in the group are Thomson SA
and Time Warner Inc .
The consortium's member firms, which jointly developed DVD
technology, are at odds over royalties and licensing fees.
In April, Sony said it and Philips and Pioneer had started
licensing their patents on manufacturing technology for DVDs.
The licences will be provided for a royalty of 3.5 percent
for DVD players and five U.S. cents per disc, Sony said.
But obtaining a licence from the three companies would not
be sufficient to allow a company to begin making DVD products
because patents held by them cover only part of the technology
needed to make the products. |
