Big guns hedge bets on Blu-ray/HD DVD

Verbatim Corporation and its parent company Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM) today unveiled plans to support the development of both Blu-ray and High-Definition DVD (HD DVD) recordable and rewritable media.

The optical media firm promised that Blu-ray media will be available with 25GB (single-layer) and 50GB (double-layer) capacities, while its HD DVD media will be available with a single-layer capacity of 15GB.

Double-layer HD DVD media is also being developed for release after the format has been agreed.

The company added that it is working with the standards groups and burner/recorder manufacturers to develop and refine the materials and manufacturing processes, having joined both the Blu-ray Disc Association as a contributor and the HD DVD Promotion Group.

During the past year, Verbatim has been shipping 30GB Ultra Density Optical media that is increasingly being used in optical libraries for legal, financial, healthcare and government applications.

"MKM's proven R&D strength will play a prominent role in the development of next-generation blue laser media technology," said Verbatim president Randy Queen.