Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Co., Ltd. (MKM) today announced the world's first dual layer DVD-R disc made to DL standards to be launched this spring.

"Sales of DVD recording drives show tremendous increases worldwide," says Shigeru Tamura, MKM Chief Information Officer. "And industry estimates*2 put demand for DVD discs in 2005 at some 2.5 billion units, which is a year-on-year increase of 79%." As users record more images and movies, data density increases and people ask for greater capacity DVD recording discs. To meet this demand, MKM launched the world's first double layer DVD+R discs in May 2004, which were well received in the market. Now, MKM will be the first one to launch a single sided dual layer media in the DVD-R format, which is the most popular format.

With development of this new disc, capacity of DVD-R discs is now double*3 that of conventional discs of this type. When using these new discs in compatible DVD drives, not only large amounts of data can be recorded continuously on the discs, but also the discs can be used in conventional DVD players of PC DVD-ROM drives to playback the recordings.

NOTES:
*1 As of February 16, 2005
*2 Japan Recording-Media Industries Association
*3 Compared to conventional DVD-R capacities of 4.7 GB, MKM's new disc offers 8.5 GB capacity.

* Data must be recorded on this product with a single-sided dual-layer DVD-R compatible drive. Other drives cannot be used.

(Characteristics)
Manufacturing of single-sided double-layer discs requires a high level of production technology to lay down the L0 and L1 layers, coat them with recording material, and place spacers between them. MKM uses proprietary DYN-AZO recording material for recording DVD discs, and application of the technology we developed for this organic recording material enabled MKM to develop single-sided double-layer recording media. In addition, as our advanced stamper technology, combined with ultra-precise substrate molding technology, achieves high writing speed and low error recording for superior recording and playback compatibility.



Source: CDRInfo

thanx for the heads up.Good news indeed.

wonder what the starting price will be...