Sony Corp. on Monday announced plans to commercialize a next-generation optical disc archive storage system. Sony will also organize an optical disc archive advisory group (ODAAG) to promote the adoption of this new storage format among the various companies in related industries.

Sony’s new system will deliver superior long-term storage capabilities, which are enabled through the use of media built to withstand changes in temperature and humidity, and is dust and water resistant. Furthermore, the new system provides guaranteed intergenerational compatibility and eliminates the need to re-archive copies of past archive data, offering a more user-friendly and dependable long-term storage solution.

Sony will be releasing various optical disc media for archive storage solutions into the market that is compatible with the “ODS-D55U” drive unit equipped with a USB 3.0 interface and storage capacities between 300GB-1.5TB ODC1500R) Sony plans to consecutively enhance its product lineup upon this initial release.

Additionally, Sony has organized optical disc archive advisory group open to participation by media and entertainment companies to further build the market for video image archive solutions. With this group, Sony will collaborate with partners to establish and maintain a solution and application software environment that advances optimum specifications and system architectures among other areas, while anticipating future trends and demand in the archive solutions segment. This collaboration will consider and study the potential for utilization of optical disc media in their archive workflow and develop appropriate application software for future media asset management and distribution strategies.

Furthermore, in addition to the production of media and drive units, Sony will collaborate with a variety of other manufacturers in related business areas such as storage media, robotics (automated media exchange systems), middleware (hierarchical storage management and control) and application software for media asset management (including media management and search) for the purpose of developing system solutions for media archive applications.

Several broadcasters and motion picture companies have  already announced their participation in the ODAAG. Workshops and pilot projects will start to support these mutual activities, targeted for product shipment timing of fall 2012.

Tags: Sony, Blu-ray