Reprinted from a Imation press release:
Imation Corp. (NYSE:IMN) , a worldwide leader in removable data storage media, will highlight the newest additions to its portfolio of personal storage product offerings during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Jan. 8-11, 2004. Recent additions include new high-speed 8x DVD+/-R, a full line of write-once printable media, and a strategic agreement between Imation and Napster to bring the online music experience to the retail shelf.
Speed, Performance and Reliability
Imation’s new 8x DVD+/-R media features the fastest recording speed of any current DVD format, and supports write speeds up to 4x. With a certified recording speed of 8x and a 4.7GB capacity, Imation’s write-once 8x DVD+/-R discs can permanently store thousands of digital photographs or an estimated two hours of digital video per disc. With recording speeds of 8x, Imation’s newest DVD media cuts the 4x DVD recording speed in half by recording to full capacity in seven minutes or less.
Featuring a storage capacity equivalent to seven CD-R/RW discs, 8x DVD+/-R media is ideal for capturing, saving and sharing personal videos and favorite shows, transferring video and large capacity files, high volume data recording, archiving and playback. Imation 8x DVD +/-R media will initially be available in the first quarter of 2004 in single packs, 5-packs and 25-pack spindles through select retailers.
Printable Media Provides Quality Identification
The printable media market is exploding as the demand for media printed with customized graphics increases, as well as the demand for optical media to preserve digital memories, such as music, photos and videos. Plus, companies are creating more and more digital material including presentations, promotional material and catalogs that need to be permanently stored. To save time and easily identify their creations, many consumers and organizations depend on write-once printable media for their desktop publishing needs.
Working with leading duplication and printing manufacturers, Imation has launched a new line of printable CDs and DVDs that raise the bar for print quality on optical media. Imation extends the high-quality print surface all the way to the center hub of the disc — providing more printable area for the user and presenting a more professional look. Greater consistency is also achieved by printing directly on the disc using a special inkjet or thermal printer, as opposed to a separate label.
Imation offers printable CD-R media in white, silver or gold thermal surfaces and a hub-printable white inkjet surface. Imation will offer hub- printable silver inkjet CD-Rs and hub-printable DVD+/-Rs in both silver and white inkjet and white thermal surfaces in the first quarter of 2004.
Imation Targets Napster
Imation is also announcing this week a strategic license agreement with Napster, a division of Roxio and the world’s most recognized brand in online music. The agreement establishes Imation as the exclusive distributor of Napster-branded optical media products in North America. As part of the agreement, Imation will provide sales, marketing and distribution services for all Napster-branded blank CD and DVD products.
In addition, the companies also announced a partnership with Target Stores and Case Logic that will provide the first “one-stop shop” in a retail environment where consumers can find everything needed for a complete digital music experience, including pre-paid Napster download cards, a Napster 2.0 and Roxio software pack, blank Napster-brand optical products from Imation that feature unique “value-added” promotional codes for redeeming free music downloads, and Napster-brand CD cases from Case Logic.
“The partnership will help bring online music to millions of users and offers unique value for all of our customers,” said Dave Ferraresi, vice president and general manager, Imation’s Personal Storage Media business. “Adding Napster-branded optical media to Imation’s broad portfolio of removable data storage products supports our commitment to invest in opportunities that grow our core removable media business and deliver long- term benefits to our customers.”
Napster-branded CD-Rs will be available starting February 15, at Target stores nationwide. For more information, go to www.imation.com .