After years of being around, Serial ATA (SATA) is likely to finally become a mainstream interconnection technology not only for hard disk drives, but also for optical disc drives in the second half of 2007, according to a media report.

Several DVD recorders, including Sony AW-Q160S, Asustek DRW-1814BLT and DVD-E616A3T that support Serial ATA interconnection instead of advanced technology attachment packet interface (ATAPI) have already been launched. Additionally, Samsung Electronics, Pioneer, Lite-On IT and BenQ will launch Serial ATA DVD burners this quarter, according to a news-story by DigiTimes web-site.

Given that for optical drives data transfer rates of interfaces have no effect on performance and typical Parallel ATA interconnection is found on broader amount of personal computers, makers of optical disc drives (ODD) have been reluctant to implement Serial ATA. However, Intel Corp. is reducing the number of Parallel ATA devices supported by its core-logic sets, which catalyzes makers of ODDs to transit their products to newer interface.

Higher market penetration of Serial ATA, which supports higher transfer rates, performance enhancements and thinner cables, is likely to spur demand for optical drives with new interconnection and force makers of the devices to integrate SATA into mainstream ODDs in the second half of 2007, the web-cites sources close to ODD makers as saying.

No officials from the aforementioned ODD companies commented on the news-story.